Nebraska-Omaha travels to Dayton for first-ever meeting with Flyers
The Omaha men’s basketball returns to the road this week, opening with Dayton on Tuesday, Nov. 19. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio.
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Dwight Burgess and Tony White on the call.
Quick Hits
• Omaha is in the midst of a three-game road stretch at Colorado State (Nov. 13), Dayton (Nov. 19) and Washington State (Nov. 21).
• Matt Pile needs one blocked shot to enter the top 10 in school history for career blocks. Bryan Muellner (1985-89) currently sits in the 10th spot with 68 blocks to his credit.
• KJ Robinson enters the week needing just one 3-pointer to reach 100 threes in his career.
• The 2019-20 season is the 107th overall in program history and the ninth of the Mavericks’ Division I era. All-time, the program is 1,183-1,188.
• The Mavericks have shot 50.0% as a team twice this season and have 15 straight wins when shooting 50.0% or better.
• JT Gibson, KJ Robinson, Ayo Akinwole and Matt Pile will serve as first-time team captains this season.
Scouting the Dayton Flyers
Dayton is 2-0 (0-0 Atlantic 10) on the season after a 90-61 win over Charleston Southern on Saturday. Defending A-10 Rookie of the Year Obi Toppin scored 21 points on 10-of-13 shooting with 11 rebounds to lead UD. Four other Flyers scored in double figures: Rodney Chatman (14), Ryan Mikesell (14), Jalen Crutcher (12) and Trey Landers (10).
Toppin, who was a first-team Preseason A-10 pick, averages a team-leading 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. Dayton was picked third in the Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll released last month.
Head coach Anthony Grant has compiled a record of 37-29 in three seasons at Dayton and has a 230-139 career mark over 12 years.
All-Time Against Dayton
Tuesday marks the first meeting between Omaha and Dayton.
Against the Atlantic 10
Tuesday’s meeting at Dayton marks the second contest of Omaha’s Division I era against Atlantic 10 competition. All-time, Omaha is 0-1 against members of the conference, having fallen 120-112 to Duquesne in the first round of the 2016 CBI postseason tournament. The game included an 80-point second half for the Mavericks.
Last Time Out: Mavericks Drop Road Decision at Colorado State, 80-65
Omaha cut it to a six-point deficit in the second half but came up short last Wednesday at Colorado State, falling 80-65 at Moby Arena. Marlon Ruffin had a breakout performance off the bench, posting a team-high 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting with four triples. He added a team-leading eight rebounds, matching teammate Matt Pile on the glass. JT Gibson hit three 3-pointers and had 15 points, and Ayo Akinwole added 10 more alongside a game-high six assists.
CSU shot 47.5% (29-of-61) from the field and held Omaha to 35.4% (23-of-65). The Rams had a 43-37 advantage on the boards and a 34-18 edge in the paint.
Up Next
Omaha heads to Washington State on Thursday, Nov. 21, with tipoff set for 6 p.m. CT at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman, Wash.
GAME PREVIEW WRITTEN BY & COURTESY OF NEBRASKA-OMAHA ATHLETICS