DAYTON -- The University of Dayton Flyers are home for the final two times in the 2018-19 season in the next week, starting with Rhode Island on Friday, March 1. Game time is 7 p.m. ET. Dayton is 19-9 this season, and tied for second place in the A-10 with Davidson at 11-4, two games. The Flyers took the first meeting between the two teams 77-48 at Rhode Island on Feb. 9. UD's losses are to teams with a combined record of 174-76 (.696 winning percentage).
The game will carried by WHIO Radio, televised on NESN+, and streamed on ESPN+. Streaming audio, streaming video and stats will be available at DaytonFlyers.com.
THE NEARLY-TRANSFORMED UD ARENA
The University of Dayton is past the halfway point of a $72 million renovation of its Arena. The transformation of University of Dayton Arena will occur in three phases – from 2017 to 2019.
Phase II included new entrances on three of the four sides, a new box office, new seats in the 300 and 400 levels on the east side and a new and expanded concourse on the east side.
#TRENDING
• Dayton won its third straight game on Tuesday over UMass 72-48. The Flyers led 40-18 at halftime, thanks to 82.4% (14-17) shooting in the first half. That's the second-best mark in a half in UD history.
•
Obi Toppin broke the Flyer record for dunks in a season with the first of six he had on the night (four came on consecutive possessions). Chris Wright's old record was 66, and Toppin now has 72, which is second in the nation (two behind Arkansas' Daniel Gafford).
• Toppin was named A-10 Rookie of the Week this week, after a pair of double-doubles in wins over Davidson and Saint Louis. He has five A-10 weekly honors this year, the most of any player in the league this season.
• Toppin is fourth in the nation in field goal percentage, behind Holy Cross' Jehve Floyd, Gonzaga's Brandon Clarke and Duke's Zion Williamson. Toppin is shooting .669 (164-245).
•
Josh Cunningham had a string of 18 consecutive field goals made (over three games) late in the UMass game. That 18 ties the second-longest mark in school history. Cunningham already owns the UD record of 22 set last year.
• Cunningham is eighth in FG% (.637, 142-220). No other team has two in the top 20, and only one other (Gonzaga) has two in the top 25.
• Dayton is fourth in the NCAA (behind Gonzaga, South Dakota State and Tennessee) and leads the Atlantic 10 in FG% (.504, 771-1531). UD shot .633 (31-49) at Rhode Island.
• The Flyers have found themselves behind 10 points or more and battled back to take a lead in eight games this year. They have come back from double-digit second-half deficits to win three times (at GW, at SBU and Duquesne at home) this year.
UP NEXT
• The Flyers host La Salle on Senior Night on Wednesday, March 6. Game time is 7 p.m. ET.
• UD closes out the regular season at Duquesne on Saturday, March 9 at 7 p.m. ET.
