Javon Bennett drives to the hoop for two points. (Press Pros Feature Photos By Julie Wright-Daniel)
After a fast start and a 12-point first-half lead, Dayton’s Flyers took a breather and permitted UMBC to claw back and take the second-half lead before UD, behind Javon Bennett, barged back to win.
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Dayton, OH — Dick Vitale calls them cupcakes — lower-tier college basketball teams that are brought into the arenas of major teams for the purpose of padding the won-lost worksheet.
Those cupcakes don’t even have to have icing.
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In the case of the University of Dayton, scheduling non-Atlantic 10 Conference games against name brands is difficult.
The Big Boys don’t want to take a chance of leaving UD Arena with shattered eardrums from 13,407 screaming Flyer Faithful that might include a debilitating defeat.
So the Flyers have to search far, wide, high and deep for suitable opponents.
And that’s where teams like UMBC fit — University of Maryland Baltimore County.
The UMBC Retrievers popped into UD Arena Saturday afternoon and nearly retrieved a victory before the Flyers snapped to attention in the dying and waning moments to rescue a 77-71 win.
For the uninitiated, in 2018 UMBC became the first and still only number 16 seed in the NCAA tournament to beat a number one seed. The Retrievers didn’t just beat Virginia, they ripped holes in the Cavaliers britches, 74-54.
De’Shayne Montgomery finished with 11 points and 6 rebounds for the Flyers.
And in an exhibition game this season, UMBC played the mother ship, the University of Maryland, and lost by one, 82-81.
So there were no cupcake crumbs on the UD Arena floor, even though the Flyers flew to a 27-15 lead with eight minutes left in the first half.
But by intermission, UMBC trailed only by four, 41-37. And they kept snapping and yapping at UD’s sneakered heels and with 1:03 left it was Flyers 73, UMBC 71.
Timeout, timeout, timeout.
“I thought they needed to understand the situation,” said UD coach Anthony Grant. “You don’t want them to get too high and you don’t want them to get to low.
“From that point on, we kinda settled in and stayed the course,” he added.
That’s mainly because third-year point guard Javon Bennett put on his leadership hat, snapped down the brim, and said, “Follow me.”
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And Grant acknowledged it after Bennett finished with team-high 16 points and seven assists.
All five Flyers starters finished in double figures — Keonta Jones 12, Amael L’Etang and De’Shayne Montgomery 11 and Jacob Conner 10. Jones was perfection personified, 5 for 5 from the field that included 2 for 2 from the three-point line.
Amael L’Etang gets fouled fighting for a rebound.
But it was Bennett steering the teetering ship when it was foundering in high waves.
“With 1:45 to go, those were what we call special situations,” said Grant. “We want the ball in his (Bennett’s) hands and he made the decisions with the ball and that’s all you can ask.
“We got good looks, two huge offensive rebounds and had the awareness to put the ball back in his (Bennett’s) hands,” he added. “Then he made two free throws to put us back into a two-possession game.”
Those were two free throws Bennett made with 22.3 seconds left to push the Flyers in front, 75-71.
“The game was a good test for us,” said Bennett. “It was the first time we had some real live adversity and we were able to respond. I feel like it will get us better down the road. It was a good test for us.”
Bennett even agreed with the crowd’s attitude. . .what does UMBC stand for and what are they doing on the floor with the Flyers.
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“I want to say we took ‘em lightly,” said Bennett. “We came into the game thinking we were going to win, but kudos to them. They played hard, made shots and took advantage of our mistakes.
“At the end of the day, it’s all about winning so we finally took care of business,” he added.
Keonta Jones shoots for two.
UMBC played the game missing two starters, out with injuries, and their star shooter looked as if he was the leader of the gang that couldn’t shoot straight.
Jah’likai King scored 23 in UMBC’s 74-53 season-opening win over Penn State York. And he scored 14 Saturday, but was 4 for 16 from the field, 2 for 9 from three.
Despite some struggles and some misfires and miscues, Grant was in a positive mood after the game.
“I was proud of our guys the way they responded,” he said. “They’re a good team, we knew that coming in. There were a lot of lessons in the game, really.
“We came out and built the lead, then we didn’t respond in my opinion the way we needed to respond,” he added. “We got a double digit lead then some of the mistakes we made gave them some momentum.”
When the Flyers led, 27-15, the Retrievers were 5 for 18 from the field and 1 for 6 from three.
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But in the final 8 1/2 minutes of the first half they were 9 for 14 and 4 for 8 from three to slice UD’s margin to 41-37 at intermission.
“They got some confidence that they could make runs and momentum was the story of late in the first half and early in the second half,” said Grant.
Jordan Derkack en route to the basket for two points.
And it was owned by UMBC.
“I was proud of this group because it’s the first time they’ve faced some adversity,” said Grant. “The way our guys responded to that adversity speaks to their character and work ethic. They really locked in and did a good job of battling through and getting the win with a lot of lessons learned,” Grant added.
Bennett said the Flyers needed some Flintstone vitamins or a twist of an ear to point them in the right direction.
“Our energy wasn’t high, especially on the defensive end,” he said. “They were hitting some shots that bled into our offensive efficiency. But we were able to fight through it.”
Of the late-game timeout that pointed the Flyers toward Point Victory, Bennett said, “Coach kinda told us we were lacking on defense and they were going on runs.
“He told us we should be able to get stops and score on transition and that’s where we flourish. We did that and got the momentum back,” he said. “Those were the words of encouragement he gave us.”
And his game-clinching free throws?
“I live for those moments,” he said. “It defines the type of player I am. The team has great confidence in me to knock down those shots. . .and I did.”
Indeed, he did.
Bryce Heard shoots and makes the bucket.
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