By Marisol Nicholson

1/7/2024

BOX SCORE PDF

https://daytonflyers.com/documents/2024/1/7/UDMBBvsUMass01072024.PDF

POSTGAME INTERVIEWS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muWWdScztBk

Javon Bennett Knocks Down Four Clutch Free Throws In Final 26 Seconds To Preserve The Win

DAYTON – The University of Dayton men’s basketball team won its Atlantic 10 home opener 64-60 in wire-to-wire fashion against Massachusetts.

Daron Holmes II led UD with 18 points, six rebounds and four assists including a career high three pointers made. Enoch Cheeks had 11 points, and Zimi Nwokeji contributed all nine of his points in seven first-half minutes off the bench. Dayton held UMass to shooting 13.6% from beyond the arc.

The Flyers have won nine straight and improves to 12-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play. UMass drops to 10-4 overall and 1-1 in Atlantic 10 play.

GAME RECAP
1st Half – Dayton 38, UMass 29

• After securing the opening tip-off, Enoch Cheeks scored on a layup assisted by DaRon Holmes II to start the scoring.
• Kobe Elvis had an acrobatic finish to put the Flyers up 4-2 at in the second minute.
• Holmes answered UMass’ layup right back with a quick three giving the Flyers a 7-4 lead.
• Holmes scored eight straight points on two dunks, a three-pointer and a free throw for the Flyers putting them up 11-8 at 15:15.
• Out of the timeout, the Flyers answered with two quick threes from Cheeks and Holmes that extended their lead 18-8 at 12:57.
• A second-effort bucket from Isaac Jack put the Flyers up 20-8 at 11:21.
• A UMass layup at 11:04 ended their nearly five-minute scoring drought, going 1-7 from the field.
• After a quick layup from the Minutemen, Zimi Nwokeji responded with back-to-back three-pointers to extend the Flyers lead to 26-14 at 9:18
• Koby Brea ended UD’s scoring drought out of the media timeout with a three-pointer that put Dayton up 33-19
• The Minutemen faced an eight-point deficit at 2:53 down 33-25.
• Holmes knocked down a three on a fast break assist by Nate Santos at 23 seconds left in the half.

2nd Half – Dayton 64, UMass 60 

• Just like the beginning of the game, Cheeks started UD’s second half scoring with a three-pointer.
• After a quick bucket from the Minutemen, Brea answered right back with a three of his own that extended Flyers lead 44-32.
• Holmes floated to the hoop scoring a layup making the score 46-34 with 16 minutes left.
• The Flyers went on a nearly three-minute scoring drought until Santos ended it with a three assisted by Holmes II.
• Nwokeji converted his and-one opportunity putting the Flyers up 53-40 at 9:48.
• Massachusetts kept the ball for nearly a minute with offensive rebounds but were shut out by Dayton’s defense from 9:11-8:21.
• At the 6:50 mark, UMass had narrowed UD’s lead to 53-46.
• Holmes secured his and-one that gave the Flyers 57-47 at 4:55.
• UMass went on an 8-0 run in 70 seconds making it 57-55 forcing the Flyers to call a timeout at 3:25.
• The Flyers secured two big defensive stops to keep their two-point lead at 2:06 mark.
• Santos went 2-2 at the free throw line, giving UD a 59-55 lead with two minutes left.
• Santos then grabbed two offensive rebounds to keep possession with the Flyers only for a shot clock violation to give UMass the ball with 65 seconds remaining in the game.
• With 30 seconds left, Holmes II secured a critical defensive rebound that led to two Javon Bennett free throws giving UD a 61-57 lead.
• Jack’s defensive rebound with 15 seconds led to him extending the Flyer lead 62-57 at the free throw line.
• Bennett grabbed a rebound and drained to more freebies to put Dayton up 64-57 with eight seconds to go.
• The Minutemen buried a long three with 1.8 seconds left to make the final score 64-60.

BY THE NUMBERS

• 18 – DaRon Holmes II led the Flyers in scoring with 18 points.
• 11 – Enoch Cheeks scored his UD career high in points.
• 9 and 15 – Zimi Nwokeji scored a season high in points while playing a season high in minutes.
• 3 – Holmes II went 3-6 from three, matching his career high.
• 7 — Koby Brea led Dayton with seven rebounds.
• 7 of 8 — After UMass made it a two-point game, Dayton made seven of eight free throws to protect the lead.
• +7 — Nwokeji’s +7 rating was UD’s best in the game.
• 13.6% – The Flyers had stifling perimeter defense leading UMass to only shooting 13.6% from beyond the arc.
• 20 – UMass outrebounded the Flyers on the offensive glass with 20-6.

UP NEXT 

• The Flyers travel to Pittsburgh, Pa. on Friday to face the Duquesne Dukes.
• Tip-off is at 7 p.m. ET.
• Coverage will be live on ESPN2.
• UD’s next home game is on Tuesday, Jan. 16 against Saint Louis.

COURTESY DAYTON MEDIA RELATIONS