By Malcolm Smith

3 1 2025

DAYTON – The University of Dayton men’s basketball team won in a hard-fought, double overtime nailbiter against the Richmond Spiders 72-63 at UD Arena on Saturday afternoon. Dayton improved to 20-9 overall (10-6 A-10) and Richmond fell to 10-20 overall (5-12 A-10).

Nate Santos and Enoch Cheeks led the Flyers with 18 points apiece, while Malachi Smith added 14. Cheeks also pulled down 11 rebounds in the contest for a double-double, and Santos grabbed eight. Zed Key tied the program record for blocks in a game with six.

Today was Senior Day and the Flyers honored Posh Alexander, Enoch Cheeks, Zed Key, Nate Santos, Malachi Smith, and Brady Uhl in pre-game ceremonies.

First Half – Dayton 24, Richmond 26

• The Flyers had a hot start with senior Nate Santos swishing a three pointer only 13 seconds in.
• Senior Enoch Cheeks was able to get around tough Richmond defense and sink a three, putting the Flyers up by two.
• At the first media timeout, the score stood at 9-6 with Dayton down by three.
• Senior Posh Alexander reopened the momentum for the Flyers with a three-point shot.
• Redshirt freshman Jaiun Simon cut through the defense and exploded into a successful layup to put the Flyers down by one.
• Santos got the crowd roaring after dunking the ball to put the Flyers still trailed 17-13 at the 9:33 mark.
• Redshirt junior Malachi Smith recorded his first points of the game with a three-point shot from the top.
• Freshman Amaël L’Etang rebounded and got a putback at 6:48 to bring the Flyers within two.
• Smith stayed aggressive and made a slicing layup to cut Richmond’s lead to 23-20.
• Junior Javon Bennett connected on a three pointer to gain momentum right back following a timeout, 25-23.
• The Flyers headed into halftime down by two after shooting 32% (9-28).  Richmond’s FG% was 34.6% (9-26).

Second Half – Dayton 48, Richmond 48

• The Flyers hit their first shot of the half with a three-point dagger from Smith in the corner.
• L’Etang added to it with a smooth lay in at 18:32 mark.
• Santos added to his point total with a tough contested finish at the 17:18 mark.
• After a Zed Key block on the defensive end, Cheeks led the fast break and found Santos for the crowd roaring, three-point swish that gave Dayton its largest lead of the game at 37-30 at the 13:45 mark.
• Junior Jacob Conner got his first points with a bucket from beyond the arc as the shot clock expired at 10:56 mark
• Cheeks finished an ultra-smooth turnaround fadeaway in the paint at the 5:12 mark that kept Dayton in front 43-39.
• Key was able to draw a foul and knock down clutch free throws with 42 seconds left to tie the game at 48 apiece.
• The Flyers and Spiders ended regulation tied 48-48 heading into overtime.

Overtime – Dayton 59, Richmond 59

• Cheeks got the Flyers started by securing both free throws that gave Dayton the lead once again
• Richmond got a couple buckets to regain the lead
• After the Spiders got a bucket that kept in front, Santos was able to draw the foul and secure the and-one but couldn’t knock the down the free throw that kept Richmond in front 55-54
• Smith got his clutch genes unlocked by knocking down the three-pointer to tie the game once again with 34 seconds left
• Spiders got a go-ahead dunk by Dusan Neskovic with six seconds left, but Santos was able to tie the game by going coast-to-coast for a layup with under one second left..
• Both teams tied at 59 headed into the second overtime.
• It was UD ‘s first double-overtime game at UD Arena since New Year’s Day in 2011 against New Mexico.

Double Overtime – Dayton 74, Richmond 64

• Cheeks started things quickly with a layup to put the Flyers up 61-59.
• Santos stayed calm under pressure at the free throw line making both of his shots, pushing the Flyers’ lead by two.
• Smith sliced through the defense to score a nifty layup and put Dayton ahead 65-61.
• Santos was once again sent to the free throw line and made both shots to make it the largest Flyer lead in overtime, six points. 67-61.
• A calmed Cheeks made both of his free throws to extend the Dayton lead to 69-63 with 40 seconds left.
• Key converted an old-fashioned three-point play to give the Flyers a nine-point advantage with 25 seconds left
• Bennett also sank a pair of free throws nine seconds later to push the final margin to 10.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• 6 – blocks for Zed Key, a career-high and tying the Flyers’ program record.  It was previously done by DaRon Holmes II, Steve McElvene, Chris Wright Sean Finn, Erv Giddings and George Morrison.  Key also had seven rebounds and shared team honors in steals with Enoch Cheeks with 2
• 11 – Cheeks led the team with 11 rebounds.
• 18 – Cheeks and Nate Santos led the team with 18 points.
• 24 – Points in the paint for the Flyers.
• 33 – free throws attempted by the Flyers in the game, second-most on the season.
• 26 – After scoring 24 points both of the halves of regulation, Dayton scored 26 points in 10 combined minutes of the two overtimes

UP NEXT

• The Flyers remain at UD Arena this week playing Saint Louis in their final home game of the season on Tuesday night.
• Tipoff is at 7 p.m. ET.

COURTESY DAYTON MEDIA RELATIONS