DAYTON -- The University of Dayton men's basketball team battled back from 22 down in the last 18 minutes of the second half, but the Flyers could not hang on to a one-point lead in the final seconds, falling 69-68 at UD Arena.  VCU guard Marcus Evans scored a driving layup with six seconds left to allow the Rams to escape with the win.  The Flyers are now 16-9 (8-4 A-10) on the season, while VCU moves to (19-6, 10-2 A-10).  VCU is tied for first in the A-10, while UD is fourth.
 
Ryan Mikesell had a career-high 22 points on 9-12 shooting. Obi Toppin (15 points), Jalen Crutcher (13) and Josh Cunningham (10) also reached the double-digit mark in the scoring column.
 
First Half: Dayton 29, VCU 41

• Ryan Mikesell started things off with a three for the Flyers.
• VCU went on a 16-0 run to take a 26-12 lead with just over nine minutes left in the 1st half.
• Josh Cunningham ended a five-minute scoring drought with a three-point play.
• Dayton made five of its last six from the field to get the deficit to 34-24.
• Mikesell led the Flyers with 13 points in the half on 6-7 shooting.
• VCU took 11 more shots in the first half due to seven offensive rebounds and 11 Dayton turnovers.

Final: Dayton 68, VCU 69

• VCU started off the half with a 10-0 run to take a 51-29 lead.
• Jalen Crutcher hit two three-pointers to spark an 8-0 run, cutting the lead to 13, 55-42.
• Dwayne Cohill hit a layup to cap off a 16-2 run. VCU led 57-50 with 10 minutes left.
• Obi Toppin hit a three to cut the lead to 59-58, Dayton had trailed by as much as 22.
• Toppin scored on an alley-oop from Crutcher gave the Flyers their first lead of the half 60-59.
• VCU answered with a 6-0 run to take the lead back 65-60.
• Jordan Davis connected on a three-pointer to put Dayton in the lead, 66-65 with 40 seconds left.
• After two VCU free-throws, Toppin hit a layup to take the lead back 68-67, but VCU answered to go up 69-68 with six seconds left. Dayton was unable to convert on the final shot.

 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Ryan Mikesell had a career-high with 22 points on 9-12 shooting.
• Obi Toppin led the Flyers with eight rebounds.
• Jalen Crutcher led had seven assists.
• 13 of Toppin's points came in the second half.
• The Flyers shot well from beyond the arc hitting on 7-of-15.
• De'Riante Jenkins led VCU with 19 points, connecting on 5-7 from three.
• Stats were even in points in the paint (34-34), second-chance points (13-13) and turnovers (14-14), and virtually even in fast break points (Dayton 17-16) and points off turnovers (Dayton 16-13).
• Bench points was a difference for VCU, outscoring Dayton 20-2.
• To put the UD comeback in perspective, he Flyer record for comebacks from a second-half deficit is 20 against Cincinnati on Jan. 31, 1987.  

 
UP NEXT

• Dayton travels to Davidson, who is tied with VCU for first in the Atlantic 10, Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET. 
• The Flyers next home game is against Saint Louis at UD Arena next Saturday, Feb. 23 with tip-off scheduled for 4 p.m. ET.