PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Sophomore Amaël L'Etang finished a putback with 0.6 seconds remaining to upset No. 1 seeded Saint Louis, 70-69, in the semifinal round of the Atlantic 10 Championship on Saturday afternoon at PPG Paints Arena.
 
With the win, the Flyers (22-10) advance to the Atlantic 10 Championship final on Sunday, March 15 at 1 p.m.
 
Senior Jordan Derkack put together his best performance in a UD uniform to lead the Flyers, scoring 28 points and grabbing six rebounds.
 
The final sequence of the game was what March Madness is all about, as senior Jacob Conner knocked down a deep three to put the Flyers ahead 68-66 with just :11 on the clock. Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Robbie Avila responded with a three of his own to put the Billikens (28-5) ahead 69-68 with just six seconds to go.
 
Derkack took the inbound and drove to the basket, but his go-ahead layup attempt fell just off the rim. L'Etang cleaned up the action, registering his fourth rebound and seventh point to clinch the upset bid.

Dayton erased an 11-point deficit with 14:56 in the game thanks to a 17-2 run that eclipsed 8:33 of game time. When the dust settled, the Flyers had built up their biggest lead of the game at 56-51. The back-and-forth over the final five minutes resulted in the most memorable stretch of basketball of the season.
 
Senior Javon Bennett joined Derkack with a great scoring night, adding 17 points in addition to a season-high four steals. Junior De'Shayne Montgomery helped carry the offensive load early, scoring 10 points in the first half. Derkack made 12-of-15 from the free throw line for the second time against the Billikens this season.

For the game, the Flyers shot 34.5% (19-of-55) from the floor and 33.3% (8-of-24) from the free throw line, while SLU shot 43.1% (22-of-55) and 35.7% (10-of-28) from behind the arc. Dayton was not as effective as Saint Louis from the free throw line, but its volume of attempts helped make up for the difference in shooting percentage, as the Flyers were 82.8% (24-of-29) and the Billikens were 88.2% (15-of-17).

BY THE NUMBERS
10:36 - time between field goals for the Billikens in the second half while the Flyers went on their 17-2 run.
:11 - seconds remaining on the clock when Jacob Conner sank a go-ahead three to put UD ahead 68-66
.06 - time left after sophomore Amaël L'Etang tipped in the go-ahead basket with Dayton up 70-69
12 - free throws made by Jordan Derkack on his way to his Dayton-high 28 points
22 - points average for Javon Bennett in the A-10 Tournament after scoring 17 against the Billikens and 27 against St. Bonaventure
4 - assists for L'Etang, who added seven points, four rebounds and two blocked shots

UP NEXT
Dayton will play the winner of No. 2 seed VCU and No. 3 seed Saint Joseph's on Sunday, March 15 in the Atlantic 10 Championship final at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. The game will tip at 1 p.m. on CBS.

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