After losing two tight games to nationally-ranked North Carolina and Iowa State, the University of Dayton basketball team made a resounding statement Wednesday night in the Maui Invitational by outclassing and embarrassing No. 2 ranked UConn, 85-67, to claim seventh place in a game that resembled the championship game in the NCAA Final Four. ESPN named Enoch Cheeks player of the UD-UConn game. (pictured)
After leading by 21 points, 56-35, early in the second half, the University of Dayton couldn't hold off onrushing North Carolina as the Tar Heels scored 58 second-half points and recorded their second biggest comeback in school history to beat the Flyers, 92-90 in the first round of the Maui Invitational. Nate Santos led UD's scoring with 15 points. (pictured)
UD fans are the best. No matter what tournament or where the Flyers play, UD fans always dominate the stands. “Maui's a really fun tournament, a beautiful island. The guys are really ready to play and it's a fun atmosphere to be in,” - Zed Key. Key is a graduate transfer from Ohio State, the Buckeyes played in Maui a couple of seasons ago.
With the University of Dayton expected to easily dismantle DIII Capital, Flyers coach Anthony Grant rested starters Enoch Cheeks and Zed Key the entire game so he could experiment with different lineup combinations and it worked as the Frenchman, Amael L'Etang led the Flyers to a 76-55 win with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds. (pictured)