Three takeaways from the Flyers’ win over UNLV

Dayton coach Anthony Grant seemed relieved and happy after this memorable victory. His face showed the same emotions Tuesday as his team escaped with a 66-65 win over UNLV at UD Arena thanks to a 3-pointer by Malachi Smith with eight seconds left in the game.

“Our guys stayed the course,” Grant said, “and believed in each other and believed in what we did and found a way to get the win. “If you want to have a season like we’re capable of , you have to win such games. I’ve been here for a long time. They consider these types of victories to be some of the braver victories. Everyone wants to talk about it when you play against the ranked teams, but these are the ones that make you who you are and who you have the chance to become.”

Here are three takeaways from Dayton’s tenth win:

1. Smith made the biggest basket of his career: As a freshman in 2021, Smith drove to the basket against No. 4 Kansas. The shot was blocked. Mustapha Amzil grabbed the rebound and scored the game-winning shot at the buzzer.

This time, with Dayton once again trailing by a point, Smith used a crossover dribble to get past UNLV’s Brooklyn Hicks, drew contact and made a one-handed floater from the baseline.

“Coach Grant made a good play,” Smith said, “but he made a lot of good plays down the stretch. “I just wanted to make a play. I didn’t want to think about it too much. I had the guys open, but the best shot for my team was me attacking and trying to get a foul or a layup, and then I came out with a good shot.”

Smith missed two free throws early in the half, but made the free throw with eight seconds left.

“I was a little nervous,” Smith said. “I won’t lie.”

Photo credit: David Jablonski

Photo credit: David Jablonski

2. Dayton was stopped in the final seconds: UNLV did not call a timeout after Smith’s free throw. Dedan Thomas Jr., who led the Runnin’ Rebels with 16 points, dribbled all over the court and hit a jump shot from the corner with Dayton forward Zed Key in front of him. As time expired, the ball hit the front of the rim.

“We’ve been in situations like this before during the year,” Grant said, “so we had our defense prepared. We wanted to make sure we tried not to get the ball into (Thomas’s) hands. He did a good job of making it difficult. In the end it was a contested shot. We’re thankful he didn’t go in because they made some hard-fought today.”

UNLV’s Julian Rishwain made several of those controversial shots. He made all four of his 3-point attempts in the final eight minutes. The final play gave UNLV a 65-63 lead with 23 seconds left in the game.

Before Rishwain gave the go-ahead shot, Dayton quickly scored five points after falling behind by four points with 1:25 to play. Nate Santos made a 3-pointer at 1:15 after Dayton missed four straight 3-pointers. Smith then scored the go-ahead layup on a fast break with 37 seconds left in the game.

Smith still had another great chance left in him.

“We really needed this win,” Smith said, “just to get seeded and make it to the tournament, things like that.” We know we needed this win. We’re trying to go 3-0 in our last three non-conference games. It was a gutsy win, a tough win, but that doesn’t matter. We got the W.”

3. Dayton kept its home winning streak alive: Dayton won its 25th straight home game. This is the third longest streak in school history. The Flyers won 30 straight home games from March 2008 to January 2010 and 27 straight from February 2014 to December 2016.

Dayton has also won 26 straight non-conference home games since losing three straight to UMass Lowell, Lipscomb and Austin Peay to start the 2021-22 season.

This is the third straight season that Dayton has not lost a non-conference home game. It won’t play at home again this season until Dec. 31, when it plays La Salle (6-5) in the first Atlantic 10 Conference game of the season at 2 p.m. Between now and then there is a game against Cincinnati on Friday at 8:30 p.m. at the Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati.

STAR OF THE MATCH

Nate Santos scored 14 points on 5 of 9 shooting for Dayton. He made one of three three-pointers. He picked up his fourth foul seven minutes before the end of the game, but played the last four and a half minutes without a foul.

STATUS OF THE GAME

Dayton won despite making 5 of 23 3-pointers (23.8%). It is the fourth time this season that the rate has been below 30%. Javon Bennett made 2 of 6. Amaël L’Etang made 2 of 3.

Enoch Cheeks, Malachi Smith, Posh Alexander and Jacob Conner combined to miss all nine attempts.

The look forward

Dayton (10-2) plays Cincinnati (8-1) at Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati on Friday at 8:30 p.m. This is the sixth game between the two teams with both ranked.

Dayton defeated Cincinnati 82-68 last season in the first game between the programs since the 2010-11 season.

Cincinnati defeated Xavier 68-65 in its last game on Saturday, securing its first win in the Crosstown Shootout since 2018. The Bearcats don’t play again until Friday.

FRIDAY GAME

Dayton vs. Cincinnati, 8:30 p.m., ESPNU, 1290, 95.7