2/21/2022

DAYTON — The University of Dayton men’s basketball team returns home Wednesday, when the Massachusetts Minutemen come to UD Arena.  Game time is 7 p.m. ET.  

Last Saturday, the Flyers knocked off Saint Joseph’s 74-62 behind five players in double figures.  DaRon Holmes II led with 18 points, followed by Malachi Smith (16), Toumani Camara (13), Kobe Elvis (12) and Koby Brea (10).  Smith also had 10 rebounds and six assists.  

Wednesday’s game will be carried by WHIO Radio, televised in SW Ohio on Spectrum News 1 and streamed on ESPN+.  Streaming audio, video and stats is available at DaytonFlyers.com.

#TRENDING 
• Malachi Smith is the midst of one of the finest seasons by a UD freshman point guard.  He was the first Flyer freshman named an in-season tournament MVP since Roosevelt Chapman was MVP of the UD Invitational in 1980. He already has the UD record for steals by a freshman (now 51) and is second in assists by a freshman (139, 51 away from Juwan Staten’s 190).
• Smith and DaRon Holmes II have both been named A-10 Rookie of the Week four times.
• Holmes is first nationally among freshmen (and 6th overall) in dunks (58).  Next are Memphis’ Jalen Memphis (46) and Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren (41). 
• Holmes leads the A-10 in FG% (.638, 127-199).  He is eight FGM shy of being ranked nationally, but his .638 would be sixth.  
• Dayton’s incoming freshman class was ranked 21st-best in the nation.  DaRon Holmes II, a consensus Top 50 recruit, is the highest-rated prospect to ever sign with UD.  
• After making four of 24 three-pointers in the non-conference season (.167), Toumani Camara has made 14 of 30 (.467) in A-10 play. He has scored double figures in seven of his last eight games, averaging 11.8 points a game.  In those games he is shooting .522 (12-23) from three.
• Kobe Elvis has reached double digits in 10 of his last 12 games, averaging 12.8 ppg. 
• R.J. Blakney was the primary defender in holding St. Joe’s Taylor Funk to four points. 
• Dayton’s win over No. 4/3 Kansas was its first over a Top 5 team since the Flyers beat No. 3 DePaul 72-71 at the buzzer on Feb. 18, 1984.  Anthony Grant was a freshman on that team.
• The Covid year has complicated “the clock” for college student-athletes.  With that in mind, the Flyers’ 11 players listed as freshmen or redshirt freshmen are the second-most in NCAA Division I men’s basketball.  Only Arizona (13) has more.  Air Force, Marquette and Vanderbilt (10) are next.  KenPom has UD the least experienced team in D-I.  
• For the first time in UD Arena history, all season and single game tickets were sold before the season even began.  That announcement was made on Nov. 4.  
• Dayton has depth. Nine Flyers average 7.4 minutes or more.  Nine have had at least one game of 10 points or more.  Eight average 5.5+ points a game, and four average 9.0+.
• UD shoots .502 and allows .389 from the field in its 19 wins this season.  In the six losses, Dayton shoots .413 and allows .462.  UD allows 56.5 ppg. in its wins, and 69.0 in its losses.

UP NEXT 
• The Flyers return to Philadelphia Saturday, at LaSalle at 2 p.m. ET.  
• Dayton is at Richmond Wednesday, March 2  before playing Davidson at home on March 5.  

COURTESY UD MEDIA RELATIONS