Calm and poised, Jordan Derkack hits two winning free throws. (Press Pros Feature Photos By Julie Wright-Daniel)
The University of Dayton Flyers ended their four-game losing streak Tuesday night in UD Arena, 72-70, over St. Bonaventure, when Jordan Derkack bottomed out two free throws with :02.7 seconds left, then held its breath when a Bonnies three-point fling caromed off the rim as the buzzer sounded.
Dayton, OH. — Two things attract Jordan Derkack on a basketball floor — the orange paint on the rim and the black stripe of the foul line.
Hall of famer Hal McCoy writes UD Flyer basketball exclusively for Press Pros Magazine.com.
Derkack spends more time bull-rushing the rim and dallying at the foul line than a football fan in front of a TV set on Super Sunday.
And because Derkack was super at both things Tuesday night in UD Arena, the University of Dayton Flyers stopped their losing streak at four games.
And even though the Flyers were playing St. Bonaventure, 2-and-8 in the Atlantic 10 Conference, it was a breath-holder.
It was not a masterpiece and the video won’t be sent to the New York Museum of Art, this 72-70 victory, but for what the Flyers have endured the last two weeks it should be sent to the Louvre.
With the scored tied, 70-70, Derkack did what he does best. . .he took a pass, lowered his head and barged for the basket like an NFL running back on fourth-and-goal at the one.
Javon Bennett was top scorer with 20 points.
And, as usual, he was fouled with :02.3 seconds left. He stepped to the line with silence from 13.407 witnesses, and knocked down both free throws.
It wasn’t over, though, especially the way things have spiraled downward for the Flyers in recent games. A three-pointer would beat them.
And the Bonnies somehow completed a full-court pass into the hands of Darryl Simmons II, who happens to own the most three-pointers in the A-10.
He caught the pass and launched. It drew iron, but bounced away harmlessly and UD’s four-game losing streak was over.
“After two weeks of four straight losses, it is a combination of happiness and relief,” said UD coach Anthony Grant, who was booed by the student section during pre-game introductions.
That Derkack, a 6-foot-5 graduate student from Colonia, N.J. was at the foul line at game-determining time was no shock.
Athletes In Action is proud to be a presenting sponsor of area basketball on Press Pros Magazine.com. Call now for camp opportunities for your team in summer, 2026.
He is close to leading the nation in times fouled and number of free throws taken. On Tuesday he was fouled seven times and made 12 of 15 en route to a UD career-best 18 points in only 19 minutes and 58 seconds of playing time.
And when he isn’t upright rim-bound, he is on his knees, on his back or in a pile-up trying to dig out the basketball.
Amaël L’Etang hit a three pointer at the beginning of the first half.
Grant calls what Derkack does, “Dirty Work.”
And Grant and the team appreciate it.
“I think that’s who he is, I think that’s what he brings,” said Grant. “Those type of things are inspirational to his teammates to know that he is willing to do what we call dirty work.
“He is willing to do all that and those kind of things a lot of times, just like the extra pass, is contagious for your team,” Grant added. “Those effort plays and those hustle plays inspire and motivate guys to understand this is what it takes to go out and win.”
The Flyers appeared to have the game tucked in both hands early in the second half, constructing a 13-point lead, 47-34, with 17:44 left.
But St. Bonaventure (13-10, 2-8) went on a 14-0 spree to take a 48-47 lead with 12:36 left, mainly because the Flyers missed four nose-to-the rim shots that bounced away.
And it stayed tight, 68-68, with 48 seconds left. At that time, Javon Bennett had scored 16 points in the first half, but only two in the second half up until it was 68-68.
Knapke Kitchens and Baths, in Versailles, proudly sponsors the best area sports stories on Press Pros Magazine.com.
But he drove toward the basket from the right side and banked it in over 6-foot-8, 270-pound Frank Mitchell, who bears more resemblance to a tight end that belongs in the Super Bowl instead of wearing XXXL basketball shorts.
De’Shayne Montgomery passes the ball to a teammate.
UD’s Amaël L’Etang fouled Mitchell with :13.9 second left and he sank both free throws to tie it, 70-70.
Man Mountain Mitchell scores 16 a game and leads the A-10 in rebounding at 9.9 a game. The Flyers eliminated him in the first half — three points, four rebounds.
But Big Frank decided to play in the second half and when Big Frank becomes a poacher near the basket, he is difficult to dislodge.
He took command during the Bonnies 14-0 streak and finished the game with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
But after his game-tying free throws, Derkack matched him with two much more important free throws.
“Somebody called a timeout so I had time to think about it,” said Derkack. “Not one of my guys had anything but confidence in me. It was all positive vibes and I kinda knew once I got to the line I was making both of those.”
But what was he thinking, what was he saying to himself as he stepped to the line?
Minster Bank is a proud sponsor of the UD Flyers on Press Pros Magazine.com.
“First I was telling myself, ‘You’re not losing this game’ and then it was, ‘Just do what you do every day,’” he said, meaning the 100 free throws he shoots in practice every day.
“We work on those every single day, so it’s nothing new,” he added, failing to realize there are 13,407 fans watching, most of them counting on him.
Flyer Coach Anthony Grant was booed by UD student section.
Free throws made the difference. While St. Bonaventure made 14 of 17, UD made 28 of 33. In addition to Derkack’s 12 of 15, L’Etang was 7 for 8 and scored 16.
The Bonnies had five players score in doubles —Darryl Simmons II 17, Mitchell 16, Dasonte Bowen 14, Cayden Charles 13 and Daniel Egbuniwe 10.
St. Bonaventure missed its first 11 three-point shots and finished 4 for 19, but was 22 for 35 on two-pointers.
The Flyers were 6 for 19 from three and 13 for 27 on two-pointers.
Asked how much the Flyers wanted this one, Bennett said, “Badly. Coming off four straight losses, we knew this wasn’t going to be easy, but we saw what we did wrong in those games and we did a good job of imposing our will. We kinda lost our sense of pride.”
He imposed his will with 6 of 10 shooting, 4 of 6 free throws. Grant took some pressure off Bennett by moving him to the No. 2 spot and giving ball-handling duties to 6-foot-10 Jacob Conner.
He played 25 minutes and didn’t score, but committed only one turnover and produced three assists and, most importantly, eased the physical responsibility away from Bennett.
“We were looking for us, offensively, to flow better, help our guys play to their strengths” said Grant. “Jacob is versatile, has played every position for us this year.
“When you think how difficult that is in our system to go from the one to the wing to the five to the four and the three. . .I think that’s pretty special. He’s able to function in all those areas because he has a very high IQ.”
Jordan Derkack’s usual hanging out spot near the rim.
Allenbaugh Insurance, in Jackson Center, supports the UD Flyers on Press Pros Magazine.