DAYTON -- The University of Dayton Flyers return home to host the Grambling State Tigers. Game time is 6:30 ET.  

Dayton is 9-2, with both losses in overtime to Top 25-caliber teams -- Kansas in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational finals and Colorado in a buzzer-beater last Saturday at the Chicago Legends.  The Flyers were 13th in the Associated Press poll, and 12th in the USA Today Coaches poll.  

The game will be carried by WHIO Radio, televised on Spectrum News 1 and streamed on ESPN+.  Streaming audio, streaming video and stats will be available at DaytonFlyers.com.

THE TRANSFORMED UD ARENA 
The University of Dayton has completed a three-year, $76.2 million transformation project of UD Arena in time for the Arena's 50th anniversary season. The project transformed the 50-year-old facility into a state-of-the-art venue.  The upgrade, the largest construction project in University history, modernizes the Arena without losing the "soul of the bowl" – the atmosphere that has made UD Arena one of the best places to watch college basketball.

#TRENDING 
• This is Dayton's first national ranking in head coach Anthony Grant's short tenure (two years and six games when the Flyers were first ranked) as the Flyer head coach.  UD was last ranked this high in December of 1967, when the Flyers were ranked sixth.  
• Obi Toppin is on three national player of the year watch lists -- the USBWA's Oscar Robertson Trophy Watch Lis, the James Naismith Trophy and Lute Olson Award.  The Preseason First Team All-Atlantic 10 selection is also on the Karl Malone Award Watch List, which goes to the top power forward.  Jay Bilas listed him as his top breakout candidate this year.
• Toppin had his 100th career dunk during the Virginia Tech game in Maui, which was just his 20th start and 38th career game. He now has 117.
• Toppin is third in the A-10 in scoring (19.8) and fourth in FG% (.619, 86-139). 
• Jalen Crutcher is tied for fifth in the A-10 in assists (5.4).  Rodney Chatman is 10th (4.0).
• UD is first in D-I in FG% (.533, 344-645) and assists (19.6), and sixth in scoring (84.0).
• Seven different Flyers have already scored in double figures this season, and five different players have led UD in scoring within the last seven games.
• In the overtime loss to Colorado, Jalen Crutcher led UD in scoring for the second straight game, getting 14 of his 19 points after halftime (including a short-lived go-ahead layup with 10 seconds left).  Obi Toppin had 17 points (11 after halftime) and Rodney Chatman had 12 (all in the first half).  

UP NEXT 
• After a short break for the Christmas holiday, Dayton will close out the non-conference schedule with North Florida on Monday, Dec. 30. Game time is 7:00 p.m.  ET.
• UD begins Atlantic 10 play with a two-game trip to La Salle (Jan. 2) and St. Joe's (Jan. 5).