GAME NOTES

https://davidsonwildcats.com/documents/2022/12/29/2223DaytonHome.pdf

LISTEN

https://thevarsitynetwork.com/audioapplink/source/oas-92/content/davidson:allaccess-Live-1310

DAVIDSON WILDCATS (8-5, 1-0 A-10)

Head Coach: Matt McKillop (Davidson, 2006)
Career Record: 8-5 (1st season), Record at Davidson: Same

DAYTON FLYERS (9-5, 1-0 A-10)
Head Coach: Anthony Grant (Dayton, 1987)
Career Record: 304-166 (15th season), Record at Dayton: 111-57 (6th season)
GAME INFORMATION

Date | Time: December 31, 2022 | 2:00 PM
Location: Davidson, N.C.
Site: John M. Belk Arena (4,300)
Radio: Davidson Radio Network
TV | Online: ESPN+ | WatchESPN.com
SERIES HISTORY

Series Record: Dayton leads, 7-5
Streak: Lost 5
Last Meeting: March 5, 2022 | Dayton W, 82-76 (UD Arena)
Last Davidson Win: March 10, 2017 | W, 73-67 (A-10 Quarters)
Last Dayton Win: March 5, 2022 | W, 82-76 (UD Arena)
First Meeting: Feb. 6, 1969 | Davidson W, 64-63
Davidson Record at Home: 2-3
Davidson Record on Road: 1-4
Davidson Record at Neutral Site: 2-0Matt McKillop‘s Record: 0-0

WILDCAT SCRATCHES

• Davidson enters 8-5 overall and 1-0 in Atlantic 10 play following a 57-43 win at Fordham Wednesday in the Bronx.
• Since joining the A-10 in 2014-15, Davidson has won two regular season titles (2015, 2022), a tournament title (2018), made three NCAA Tournaments (2015, 2018, 2022) and totaled 92 league wins (11.3 per year).
• The Wildcats have recorded an average finish of 4.0 in the 14-team conference and made the tournament semifinals each year.
• Davidson improved to 5-4 in A-10 Conference openers with its win over Fordham.
• Preseason all-conference selection Foster Loyer continues to lead the ‘Cats in scoring, averaging 17.4 points per game.
• The red-shirt senior enters just 79 points shy of 1,000 for his career.
• Loyer ranks among league leaders in scoring (17.4/5th), 3-pointers made (34/6th), free-throw percentage (.886/2nd), 3-pointers per game (2.6/6th), assists per game (5.4/2nd) and steals per game (2.1/1st).
• Sam Mennenga is also contributing double figures (15.5 ppg) for the ‘Cats, while leading the team in rebounding (7.4 rpg).
• Coming off his first career double-double, Desmond Watson is averaging 11.5 points and shooting 55.1 percent from the floor over his last seven games.

LAST TIME OUT | DAVIDSON – 57, FORDHAM – 43 | DEC. 28, 2022 | BRONX, N.Y.

• Desmond Watson (15 pt, 11 reb) and Sam Mennenga (13 pt, 11 reb) each recorded double-doubles as Davidson ended Fordham’s 11-game winning streak with a 57-43 victory to open Atlantic 10 play Wednesday evening inside Rose Hill Gym.
• The Wildcats also halted the Rams’ run of 15 consecutive home wins, while dominating the glass, 56-33.
• Freshman Reed Bailey added 15 points for Davidson (8-5, 1-0 A-10), which held Fordham to just 25.4 percent from the floor, including a 3-of-31 showing from long range.
• The Wildcats, who led 29-14 at the half, finished the period on a 7-0 run highlighted by a Mennenga layup at the buzzer setup by a Bailey full-court pass with just 2.5 seconds remaining.
• Davidson was just as impressive at the defensive end in the first 20 minutes, limiting the Rams to their lowest scoring half of the season, which included a 1-of-15 start to the contest and 0-of-16 effort from behind the 3-point line.
• Rostyslav Novitskyi was the lone Fordham (12-2, 0-1 A-10) player in double figures with 12 points.
• Davidson’s lead grew to as many as 16, 41-25, on a Watson two-handed jam with just over 10 minutes to play and the ‘Cats didn’t allow the Rams closer than eight the rest of the way.

UP NEXT

• Davidson will conclude its brief homestand Wednesday when league-newcomer Loyola visits Belk Arena for a 7 p.m. nationally-televised contest.

COURTESY DAVIDSON ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS