Dayton Flyers Men’s Basketball Last Time Out: Holmes’ 32 points allows Flyers to pull away at Davidson, 69-55

DaRon Holmes

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.  

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.  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.  
  • 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.  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.  Amzil’s 10 boards were significant in light of the fact that he missed Thursday and Friday’s practices with a sprained ankle.  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.  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.

COURTESY DAYTON MEDIA RELATIONS