The Dayton Flyers and Miami Redhawks played another close one between the two teams but it was Dayton winning, 65-58, at Millett Hall in Oxford. Chris Wright led UD with 14 points while Chris Johnson added 13 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had a career-high four steals. The Flyers led 59-51 late but the Redhawks cut it to 59-58. Dayton needed free throws by London Warren and Marcus Johnson in the final seconds to hold off the Miami rally.

Other contributors for the Flyers include Paul Williams scoring eight points off the bench. Kurt Huelsman had seven points and seven boards. Mickey Perry added five points and dished out a career-high six assists. Marcus Johnson became the 41st player in Dayton basketball history to score over 1,000 points.

UD improves to 4-2 overall. They now have won four straight over Miami. The senior class has become the first Dayton group to accomplish that in 30 years.

Miami jumped out to an early lead as Julian Mavunga hit a three-pointer to start the game. Kenny Hayes followed by scoring nine of the Redhawks' next ten points to give them an 13-4 advantage. Rodney Haddix made a trey to extend the Redhawks' lead to 18-6 with 11:48 left in the first half.

Dayton got back into it thanks to a Chris Johnson and a three by Mickey Perry to cut the deficit to 18-11. Josh Benson made a pair of baskets to get UD to within five, 20-15. After an alley-oop by Marcus Johnson, Chris Wright's three-point play tied the game at 20-20 with 5:42 remaining in the half.

The Flyers took their first lead, 25-23, on a pair of free throws by Devin Searcy. Adam Fletcher scored to tie the game back at 25-25. With under a minute until halftime, Paul Williams put Dayton back on top, 28-25, with a three-pointer. The Redhawks responded with an Orlando Williams three-point play to even the score at 28-28. Wright ended the first half by making two free throws and giving UD a 30-28 halftime advantage.

The Flyers began the second half by outscoring Miami, 7-3, and extending the lead to 37-31. Chris Johnson and Paul Williams each made a trey to increase the advantage to 43-36.

Following a jumper by London Warren, Dayton led 45-37 with 10:02 to go. Miami got a basket by Antonio Ballard and a three by Haddix to cut the lead to 45-42. C.J. responded with a three-pointer to extend the UD advantage to 48-42.

Chris Wright made a pair of baskets to give UD a 59-51 lead with 3:18 left. Miami made one last run beginning with an Adam Fletcher jumper to cut it to six points, 59-53. With 1:15 remaining, Haddix made his third trey of the game to get the Redhawks to within three points, 59-56. Ballard sank two free throws to cut the Flyers lead to a single point, 59-58, with 34 seconds to play.

London Warren was fouled and made two foul shots to extend Dayton's lead to 61-58. After a miss shot by Hayes, Marcus Johnson was fouled and he made two free throws to help seal the win. Paul Williams scored the final points of the game with a pair of foul shots. UD ended the game making six straight free throws.

Dayton shot 49% from the field (55% in the second half) and outrebounded Miami, 30-29. UD went 15-22 from the foul line and made 6-15 three-point shots.

Miami was led by Rodney Haddix's 15 points and Kenny Hayes added 13. Adam Fletcher scored eight points and grabbed nine rebounds, seven offensive. The Redhawks made 42% of their shots, made 7-17 three-pointers, but converted on 13-23 free throws.

Dayton's next game will be Saturday afternoon when they host Lehigh at UD Arena. The Bud Light Pregame show begins at 1 pm and tipoff is at 2 pm. Join Larry Hansgen and Bucky Bockhorn for all the action here on the home of the Flyers, AM 1290 and Now 95.7 FM, NewsTalk Radio WHIO.

by John Tisdell

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