DAVIDSON, N.C. -- The University of Dayton men's basketball team used a 22-8 tie-breaking run to close out a 69-55 win at Davidson on Saturday.
DaRon Holmes II scored a career-high 32 points to lead UD. His 20 first-half points ensured his fifth consecutive 20-point game. Â
Dayton improves to 10-5 overall and 2-0 in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
First Half -- Dayton 44, Davidson 33
- UD scored the first six points of the game on back-to-back threes by Mustapha Amzil and Mike Sharavjamts.
- After a Davidson three, Dayton pushed the advantage out to at least a two-possession game the rest of the half.
- The Flyers' largest lead was 12 (first at the 7:45 mark, 28-16; and last at 1:34, 42-30 on back-to-back three pointers by Koby Brea).
- A pair of DaRon Holmes free throws gave him 20 points at the half. Â He was eight-for eight from the field.
- Dayton shot .607 (17-28) FG, .667 (6-9) 3-pt. and .800 (4-5) FT.
Second Half – Dayton 69, Davidson 55
- Davidson outscored Dayton 14-3 in the first eight minutes and 48 seconds to tie the game 47-47.
- UD regained control with six unanswered points – two free throws from Toumani Camara, two more from Holmes and then a layup by Holmes.
- That Holmes layup was the first Flyer field goal of the half, and it came at the 8:26 mark.
- Dayton only scored four field goals in the second half, but made 17 free throws, including eight of nine in the last 1:42 that stretched the lead from nine to the final 14.
BY THE NUMBERS
- DaRon Holmes II scored a career-high 32 points, 20 in the first half. Â
- He was 11 of 14 from the floor, made his only three-point attempt, and was 9 of 13 from the line.
- Holmes' 32 points are the most by a UD player since Josh Cunningham had 32 against Rhode Island on Jan. 20, 2018.
- It was the sophomore forward's fifth consecutive game of 20 points or more, which coincides with the Flyers' five-game win streak. Â During the streak he is averaging 25.6 points and 9.6 rebounds, while shooting .699 (51-73) FG and .686 (24-35) FT.
- Toumani Camara scored 10 points, with seven coming in Dayton's 22-8 closing spurt.
- Mustapha Amzil and Holmes shared game honors with 10 rebounds apiece. Â Amzil's 10 boards were significant in light of the fact that he missed Thursday and Friday's practices with a sprained ankle. Â For Holmes it was his sixth double-double of the year.
- Holmes also matched his career high in assists with a game-best four.
- R.J. Blakney blocked two shots and had UD's only steal while being matched up on explosive scorer Foster Loyer. Â Blakney scored all five of his points from the line in the game's final 1:09.
- Dayton has held its opponent under 60 points 10 times in 15 games this season, including the last five.
- UD is 9-0 this season when leading at the five-minute mark.
UP NEXT
- The Flyers return home to meet Saint Joseph's on Wednesday, Jan. 4.
- Game time at UD Arena is 7 p.m. ET.