NCAAB Game Preview - Dayton at La Salle
Thu Jan 2, 2020 8:30 PM EST

Gonz
85
Portl
72
F
Oreg
65
Colora
74
F
Ill
56
MSU
76
F
Dayt
84
LaSal
58
F
UTEP
67
FIU
69
F
SFA
82
SeLA
71
F
StFPA
63
Bry
67
F
Lib
59
FlGlf
46
F
Colum
72
Maine
75
F(OT)
JMU
64
UNCW
60
F
Merrim
66
MtStM
47
F
StLou
59
Duques
73
F
GASt
69
App
60
F
JU
57
N AL
62
F
N TX
84
W Ky
93
F
NFla
76
KennSt
57
F
Longw
67
Winth
91
F
Ford
46
VCU
64
F
Lipsco
66
Stetsn
63
F
StJos
52
Rich
84
F
Minn
78
Purd
83
F(2OT)
UNCA
77
Presb
79
F
MTSU
60
ODU
70
F
Elon
68
NE
77
F
UAB
44
UNCC
51
F
Leh
58
Navy
64
F
Rice
69
Marsh
89
F
HolyC
70
LoyMD
80
F
W&M
88
Hof
61
F
UTSA
64
FAU
79
F
Vermt
77
Dart
68
F
Amer
51
Colg
65
F
GaSo
70
CoCar
67
F
Tows
69
Charl
81
F
GWebb
67
Campbl
65
F
Army
65
Buck
67
F
URI
75
Brown
85
F
Lafy
72
Boston
73
F
SHSU
94
McNee
75
F
TxSt
68
ArkLR
72
F
(N/A)
65
SacHr
57
F
FaDi
63
StFNY
79
F
TNTec
59
E KY
74
F
USC-Up
75
ChaSo
89
F
RobM
89
CenCT
78
F
TexAr
73
ArkSt
52
F
NWSt
62
TXAMC
67
F
USA
60
UL
57
F
InWor
60
Nich
76
F
Lamar
74
NOrl
67
F
Troy
63
ULM
79
F
Seatt
86
UMKC
90
F(3OT)
CenAR
107
HCU
111
F(OT)
UtVal
94
ChiSt
73
F
TN-M
76
Murr
89
F
SIU-E
79
Belm
69
F
OrSt
69
Utah
81
F
E IL
79
TNSt
84
F
SEMO
63
APSU
78
F
Mont
60
S UT
58
F
MTSt
59
N CO
68
F
UND
82
Denv
71
F
W IL
74
NDSU
94
F
JSU
76
MorSt
72
F
ORU
79
SDSt
96
F
PorSt
61
Ida
72
F
(N/A)
66
UCSB
87
F
UTRGV
67
CBU
76
F
UCLA
66
Wash
64
F
Pacif
59
Pepp
56
F
USD
58
LoyMa
64
F
USC
65
WaSt
56
F
Cal
52
Stan
68
F
StMar
69
USF
58
F
La Salle braces for No. 20 Dayton's dangerous offense
Wed Jan 1, 2020 12:04 PM

Atlantic 10 Conference competition tips off Thursday when No. 20 Dayton visits La Salle in Philadelphia.

The Flyers (11-2) bring one of the nation's most efficient offenses to Tom Gola Arena for the A-10 opener. Paced by forward Obi Toppin, who is shooting 69.5 percent from inside the 3-point arc, Dayton has the nation's best 2-point field-goal percentage at 63.1.

Dayton also ranks No. 19 nationally from 3-point range at 39.0 percent. Five players have made at least 13 3-pointers, led by Jalen Crutcher (28) and Ibi Watson (27).

The Flyers shot an uncharacteristically low 4-of-15 from behind the 3-point line their last time out in a 77-59 defeat of North Florida on Monday. But thanks to Toppin's career-high 31 points, Dayton still hit 50 percent from the floor overall.

Toppin told the Dayton Daily News after Monday's win that he felt he was being fouled early but not getting the calls. Flyers coach Anthony Grant responded with a message about playing in the NBA.

"(Grant) said to play at the next level you have to play through foul calls, that there's going to be nights you get fouled every possession and they're re not going to call a thing, but it can't get in your head because it will bring you off your game," Toppin said. "I listened to him and my teammates found me and it turned out good."

Of Toppin's 31 points, 20 came on dunks. Such is the fearsome interior presence host La Salle must limit in Thursday's matchup.

The Explorers (9-3) are on a five-game win streak since losing to Philadelphia-area rival Villanova on Dec. 1. None of La Salle' opponents in the current stretch reached 70 points.

La Salle beat Drexel, Morgan State, Wagner, Fairleigh Dickinson, and most recently, Bucknell on Saturday. Guard Isiah Deas came alive over the four most recent games in the current run, knocking down multiple 3-pointers in each win since scoring just four points Dec. 7 against Drexel.

He knocked down six 3-pointers for 31 points in the Dec. 14 blowout of Morgan State. In their most recent win, the Explorers got 16 points from reserve forward Jared Kimbrough.

"It gives everybody energy, especially the bench," Kimbrough said in the postgame press conference. "Me coming in there, contributing, rebounding, I think that gives us a huge energy boost."

La Salle will need an additional boost against Dayton, particularly from an interior player like Kimbrough. Anchored by leading rebounder Ed Croswell (7.0 per game), the Explorers' post players will try to limit the looks inside that have been Dayton's trademark all season.

La Salle has defended the 3-pointer particularly well, allowing opponents to shoot just 27.1 percent from deep.

But, as its last outing suggests, Dayton can thrive offensively when the 3-pointers are not falling. Along with Toppin, the Flyers have two more primary scorers shooting better than 60 percent inside the arc with Trey Landers at 66.2 percent and Ryan Mikesell at 62.7 percent.

--Field Level Media

Team Record Comparison

Standings GB W-L Aw/Hm Stk L10
Dayton  
La Salle  

Hot Players (Last 10 team games)

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