After an atrocious 22-point emasculation at St. Bonaventure, the University of Dayton Flyers walked into Chaifetz Arena, where Saint Louis was 11-1 this season, and whipped the Billikens, 71-63, behind Javon Bennett’s career-best 19 points.
St. Louis, MO. — All season long, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde accompanied the University of Dayton basketball team on its road trips.
And it was the nasty Mr. Hyde on the floor Tuesday night when the Flyers were decapitated during their misadventure at St. Bonaventure, a 22-point loss.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde were on the plane when the Flyers flew to St. Louis for a game Friday night against Saint Louis.
Hall of fame writer Hal McCoy covers the UD Flyers/OSU baseball for Press Pros Magazine.com
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Which one would show up on the Chaifetz Arena floor in front of 9,819 hostile fans, the Billikens’ first sellout this season.
And Saint Louis was 11-1 at home with a 6-2 Atlantic 10 Conference record. In their previous game in Chaifetz, the Billikens beat VCU.
Fortunately for the Flyers, it was Dr. Jekyll on the floor and he helped UD perform surgery on Saint Louis, 71-63.
On this night, the Flyers were overloaded with energy and purpose — displaying well-executed offense and a hustling, scrappy defense.
For example, Robbie Avila, a baby-faced goggles-wearing center, had scored in double figures in 31 straight games and the 6-10 junior center was averaging 17.9.
The Flyers put a defensive strait jacket on him — four points on 1 for 7 shooting and seven turnovers.
JaVon Bennett rallied the Flyers with a career-high 19 points after a slow start in St. Louis.
On the offensive side, Javon Bennett was a stat stuffer with a career-best 19 points on 7 for 13 shooting, 4 for 8 from three. He added two assists, two steals and two blocked shots.
And too often the Flyers go as Enoch Cheeks goes and he was definitely in go mode in this one — 14 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals.
When the game began, it resembled another St. Bonaventure, George Washington, UMass debacle.
In the first five minutes, the Flyers were 2 for 9 with three turnovers and Saint Louis led 8-5.
Then something stupefying happened. The Flyers made their next 10 shots.
Bennett hit a three. Cheeks drove the lane. Bennett hit a mid-range jumper. Nate Santos drove. Bennett buried a three.
Santos swished a three. Cheeks clicked on a three. Cheeks stole the ball and drove for a basket. Posh Alexander hit a three. Amael L’Etang air-mailed an NBA three.
And the Flyers led by 17, 34-17.
A double-digit lead in the first half is something the Flyers often accomplish and just as often they let it slip away like a coin in a magician’s palm.
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And they did it again, only this time they showed poise and grit and fortitude to not let it all dissipate.
Every time the Billikens made a run, the Flyer pulled the rug out.
By halftime, UD’s lead had shrunk to 12, 37-25.
To start the second half, Saint Louis crept to within 40-30 and the quiet crowd got back into the game.
Bennett hit a runner and L’Etang scored underneath. . .44-30.
That’s when 25-year-old sixth-year red-shirt senior Gibson Jimmerson injected himself into the festivities. He scored 10 points in quick order. . .47-40.
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Once again the Flyers refused to say, “It’s yours, we quit.” Santos drove for a basket, Zed Key dunked for his only basket of the game and Cheeks lobbed in a three. . .54-40.
And the pendulum swung back the Billikens’ way with a 12-0 run and they were within two. . .54-52.
Dire straits for the Flyers? Not on this night.
After going 0 for 8 during the 12-0 Saint Louis run, Bennett drove for a basket, Santo hit a three and the 7-foot-1 L’Etang banged in another three. . .62-55.
Jimmerson, who didn’t trip over his birth certificate all night, made two free throws with 2:33 left for 21 points, but his last points. . .62-57.
From there it was foul time for the desperate Billikens and the Flyers made seven of nine free throws in the final 2 1/2 minutes to seal it.
With their second A10 road win against three defeats, the Flyers climbed to 5-4 in conference play and 15-7 overall.
Joining Bennett and Cheeks in double figures was Santos with 13 and Posh Alexander, who came off the bench and scored 10, the game’s final three points from the foul line.
Alexander played 23 minutes, but three other bench players played only a total of 25 minutes and contributed only five points.
Saint Louis entered the game with the A10’s fourth best defense against three-pointers (30.2%), but UD hit 11 of 28 (39.3%). And overall they were 24 for 58 (41.4%).
The Flyers only outrebounded Saint Louis, 32-31, but 11 were offesive rebounds. And Kobe Johnson, the A10’s leading rebounder, only snagged six.
The Flyers return home to UD Arena Tuesday night to play Davidson, hoping that only Dr. Jekyll flew home with them.
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