By Malcolm Price

74,196 Anthony Grant Dayton head coach Overall on win number 14 of season over tough, talented St. Joseph’s UD 77 SJU 72 1 24 25

74,199 Anthony Grant Dayton head coach On Nate Santos’ role has changed. Seems more vocal this year. UD 77 SJU 72 1 24 25.mp3

74,200 Anthony Grant Dayton head coach Nate Santos’ leadership skills on court coming out more this year UD 77 SJU 72 1 24 25.mp3

74,202 Anthony Grant Dayton head coach How important is it that the Flyers are closing out these conference games at end with defense & FT shooting in 3 of 4 wins UD 77 SJU 72 1 24 25.mp3

1 24 2025

Nate Santos Led All Players With A Season-High 24 Points

DAYTON – Senior Nate Santos’ 24-point outburst led the University of Dayton men’s basketball team to a wire-to-wire victory on Friday night, topping Saint Joseph’s 77-72 inside UD Arena.

UD led by as many as 19 in the game before a roaring comeback by SJU made the game tight in the end. The Flyers made their last four shots from the floor and went 7-9 from the free throw line in the closing minutes to seal the game.

Santos led all scorers with his 24, which tied a season-high and was the fifth time he’s scored 20+ points this season. Joining him in double-digit scoring was freshman Amaël L’Etang (14), Javon Bennett (12) and Malachi Smith (12).
First Half – Dayton 39, St. Joseph’s 26

• Amaël L’Etang connected from beyond the arc on the Flyers’ first possession of the game.
• Enoch Cheeks gave UD a 5-0 lead after a steal and emphatic slam dunk.
• Nate Santos dialed in a three point shot to put Dayton up 10-2.
• Malachi Smith hit Santos for a driving layup to send the Flyers into the first media timeout, 12-2.
• Santos sent the crowd into a frenzy with a two point swish to keep the Hawks quiet, 19-6.
• Posh Alexander announced his presence with a quick steal and layup.
• Five straight points from Javon Bennett put the Flyers ahead by a half-high 19.
• Santos made it a 17-point first half with a deep three pointer to give the Flyers a 39-23 lead.

Second Half – St. Joseph’s 72, Dayton 77

• L’Etang stayed hot in the second half with a three-point jumper to start.
• Bennett knocked down a jumper in the paint to make it 45-35.
• Santos continued his hot scoring run with his fourth three-point shot to keep the Flyers ahead by 10.
• Alexander connected on an old-fashioned three-point play to put Dayton ahead nine with 12:49 to go.
• After Saint Joseph’s cut the lead to five, Santos buried another two-point pull-up with 8:20 remaining to stop the Hawks’ run.
• Bennett kept the crowd loud after a layup to expand the lead to 64-58 with 3:20 to go.
• Both Bennett and Smith executed their free throws down the stretch, going 4-for-4 from the line in the final 15 seconds to ice the game.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• 24 – points for senior Nate Santos, tying a season best.
• 5 – 20+ point performances this season for Santos
• 8 – rebounds for Santos, leading all players in the game
• 8 – assists for Malachi Smith, the most in the contest for both teams
• 15 – made free throws for Dayton in the game.
• 6 – Smith went 6-for-6 from the line
• 11 – Longest scoring run for the Flyers’ offense.
• 3 – consecutive double-digit scoring games for Amaël L’Etang and Javon Bennett.
• 0 – seconds the Flyers trailed the Hawks.

UP NEXT

• The Flyers head to Olean, N. Y. to play at the Reilly Center on Tuesday, Jan. 28 against St. Bonaventure
• Game time is 8 p.m. ET.

COURTESY DAYTON MEDIA RELATIONS