2011 Xavier Musketeers Basketball: Xavier vs Dayton

Another year, another loss to Xavier in Cincinnati for the Dayton Flyers, who haven’t beaten their rival in the Queen City since 1981 with the streak extending on Saturday night thanks in large part to Tu Holloway. Holloway led all scorers with 24 points, knocking down a banker with 31 seconds remaining to help the Musketeers ((11-5, 3-0) hold off Dayton by the final score of 81-76 and extend their conference home win streak to 34 games. That ties them with Temple, who won 34 straight at home from 1987-91, for the best streak in the history of the Atlantic 10. Holloway, named Blackburn/McCafferty Game MVP, was one of three Musketeers in double figures with Kenny Frease adding 20 points and Jamel McLean 15. Juwan Staten led five Flyers (14-5, 2-2) in double figures with 17 points but the visitors could not overcome being outscored by 11 points at the foul line (25-14).

“I certainly didn't expect the score,” said Xavier head coach Chris Mack. “I would've expected the score to be the second-half score, 50-44. Our kids were resilient. I thought the big difference in the game was our free throws."

Xavier made good use of the charity stripe in the second half, attempting 22 free throws (making 19) to the Flyers’ 10 (8) in the final twenty minutes. Neither team led by more than five points in the first half with Dayton taking a 32-31 lead into the break with Josh Benson’s nine points leading the way. But they were unable to take advantage of a 14-5 bench scoring advantage in the first half thanks to six turnovers the Musketeers converted into 10 points. Xavier regained the lead early in the second half, going on an 8-0 run following a Staten jumper to go ahead 39-34 with 18:29 remaining. But the Flyers wouldn’t go away, regaining the lead 47-46 with 13:38 left as Chris Johnson capped a personal 7-2 run with a three pointer. The seesaw battle continued its trend the remainder of the half, with the visitors drawing to within one (75-74) on a Benson layup with 1:03 to go.

But that’s where Holloway, one of the premier shot makers in the Atlantic 10, worked his magic with the off-balance shot to put Xavier up three. After a pair of Dante Jackson free throws pushed the lead out to three Dayton missed two shots, the first of which being a Paul Williams three point attempt that would have tied the game. After Matt Kavanaugh missed a layup with 11 seconds to go Dayton had to foul, and Frease sealed the game with a pair of free throws. Next up for Xavier is a trip to St. Bonaventure on Wednesday while the Flyers host Fordham next Saturday.

Atlantic 10 Conference Basketball Fans

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