It was a crippling defeat for UD, its third loss in its last four games and second straight at what is no longer home sweet home.
DAYTON — The University of Dayton basketball team broke out its spiffy new grey uniforms Saturday afternoon, wearing them at home for the first time.
No smoke was seen rising above UD Arena after the game, but UD coach Archie Miller spent an inordinate about of time in the post-game locker room and some suspected it involved a ceremonial burning of the grey uniforms.
The University of Rhode Island, 1-and-6 this season on the road in Atlantic-10 play and missing its third best scorer, slipped quietly into UD Arena and left noisily with a 75-66 upset of the Flyers.
It was a crippling defeat for UD, its third loss in its last four games and second straight at what is no longer home sweet home.
With only two games remaining, the Flyers slipped to 12-4 in the A-10, two games behind league-leading Virginian Commonwealth. They are 22-6 overall but Saturday’s defeat will knock them out of the Top 25 and their potential NCAA seeding is wilting like a waterless lily.
“To be down 19 points with six minutes to go (65-46) in our arena, that hasn’t happened to our team very often, maybe ever,” said Miller. “We’ve really let our fans down, really let ourselves down. When you lose at home it strips you of your confidence. It should be really, really hard to beat us here.”
Miller tried everything. He used every combination on the floor he possibly could, injecting substitutes with impunity — Sam Miller, Ryan Mikesell, John Crosby, Xeyrius Williams and Bobby Wehrli. Nothing connected.
“Bunkers” is proud to sponsor coverage of the 2015-16 UD Flyers Basketball on Pros Magazine.com.
He even inserted knee-plagued Kendall Pollard just three minutes into the game, to the delighted roar of the 13,455 in attendance.
Archie Miller inserted knee-plagued Kendall Pollard three minutes into the game, to the delighted roar of the 13,455 in attendance.
That didn’t work, either. Pollard, who missed the previous four games, was 2 for 10 and scored eight points in 24 minutes.
“It was unfair,” said Miller. “He played too many minutes. He hasn’t practiced or played in a game in over three weeks. He battled and was physically aggressive. It is unfair to ask him to do too much now. He played way too many minutes.”
Over the last four games the Flyers have begun games as if they would rather be studying Latin than playing basketball.
They fell behind Rhode Island, 11-0, in the first five minutes. Earlier in the week they fell behind Saint Louis, 8-0, in the first five minutes, although they pulled that one out because the Billikens did everything humanly and anomaly possible to give the game to UD. Three games ago at UD Arena they fell behind St. Bonaventure, 15-5, in the first five minutes and lost.
So in their last three games they have fallen behind 34-5 in the first five minutes.
“I apologize to our fans because we’re giving unacceptable performances with so much in front of us,” said Miller. “We’re having a tough time bringing what we need to bring at this time of year. We’re not setting the tone. Our last two home games we have been a shell of ourselves in terms of the identity we need to take to the floor. We’re paralyzed mentally to start a game.”
The Rams had a Masked Marvel, point guard Jarvis Garrett (who broke his jaw in early Feb.)
While the Flyers missed shot after shot under the basket, Rhode Island got the ball deep and converted.
Andre Berry had scored 19 points all season, but came off the bench Saturday to score 15 and was seven-for-seven from the field, all from short range.
“I apologize to our fans because we’re giving unacceptable performances with so much in front of us,” – Archie Miller.
And when they weren’t scoring 32 points in the paint, a kid with the first name of Four was hitting threes. Four McGlynn, who wears No. 4, made four three-points and was four-for-four from the foul line and scored 16.
And the Rams had a Masked Marvel. Point guard Jarvis Garrett broke his jaw in early February and plays with a plastic mask covering his face. He hit three three-pointers and scored 11.
While the Rams treated UD Arena likes its personal property, making 28 of 50 (56 per cent) and 9-for-17 from three-point territory, the Flyers were 23 of 55 (42 per cent) and 6-for-16 from three
“We’re fading, our minds are fading at the wrong time,” said Miller. “This should be an easy time to motivate because so much is on the line. You shouldn’t have to talk very much.”
Everybody knows talk is cheap and Miller knows it is time for the Flyers to walk the walk the way they did early in the season.
Their body language says it all and they didn’t show defensive acumen until it was way too late. Down by 12 with four minutes left, they applied a full court press and forced two quick turnovers and cut it to seven, 65-58, with three minutes left.
Garrett, the Masked Man, hit a three with 2:12 left and that punctured the comeback balloon.
(Edited By Julie McMaken Wright)
Charles Cooke aims for the hoop through the Rhode Island defense.
United Building Materials is proud to sponsor UD Flyer basketball on Press Pros Magazine. com.
Steve McElvene attempts to block a shot of Rhody's Jared Terrell who was top scorer of the game with 18 points. (Press Pros Feature Photos By Julie McMaken Wright)