The Dayton Flyers faltered near the finish line during the Atlantic 10 Conference's regular season. In response, they've managed to go the distance in their postseason journey.

Perhaps Coach Brian Gregory will lament his team's inability to make the NCAA Tournament, the Holy Grail for most college basketball teams. It's hard for a coach to avoid the what-ifs that emerge when a Big Dance card goes begging. Nevertheless, the bench boss of the A-10's most disappointing ballclub must be considerably encouraged by what he's seen over the past two weeks.

Dayton will play a basketball game in the month of April, now that the Flyers have extended their season to the fullest possible extent. A five-point win over the Ole Miss Rebels on Tuesday night in New York ensured that, win or lose, the Flyers will contest the 2010 NIT championship on Thursday night.

Dayton's performance was not a memorable won. Basketball clinics won't be devised based on how the Flyers executed on the Madison Square Garden floor. However, it needs to be said that after a series of face-plants in pressure-cooker games from late February and early March, this team has learned how to close down opponents in the NIT, and Ole Miss was no exception.

Yes, Flyer guard Chris Johnson took a very ill-advised shot on a fast break with his team nursing a two-possession lead near the two-minute mark of regulation. Yes, the boneheaded play - which came early on the shot clock (roughly 10 seconds in) - enabled coach Andy Kennedy's ragged but resilient Rebels to pull within two points - at 65-63 - and earn a chance to tie or take the lead in the final minute. Yes, Ole Miss got a very good look at a game-tying shot with just under 20 seconds left when Kennedy eschewed a timeout and allowed his team to play open-court basketball. All those realities can't be ignored.