Kavanaugh leads as Dayton holds off La Salle, 79-75

By Paul Casey Gotham

DAYTON, OH — An early conference-season test passed. Ability to bounce back proven. Archie Miller’s Dayton Flyers continue to persevere.

Injuries have Archie Miller searching for solutions. The University of Dayton head coach might have found some clues on Saturday night.

Matt Kavanaugh posted a career high, and the Dayton Flyers held off a furious comeback to defeat the first place La Salle Explorers, 79-75 in Atlantic 10 action at UD Arena on Saturday night.

Kavanaugh notched a career-high 23 points on five-of-eight shooting from the field and 13-14 from the free throw line in 24 minutes f play.

“This was definitely a big game for us,” Kavanaugh said. “Especially coming off a loss  and with them being in first place it added a little bit extra on it. We knew we had to come out [with] a hot start.”

Kevin Dillard sparked the Flyers early. The junior point guard came off  a high ball screen getting to the basket for the game’s first points.  Dillard followed with a block on the defensive end. He gathered the loose ball, leading UD in transition where got in the paint and kicked to an open Luke Fabrizius for a trey forcing an early La Salle timeout.

“That really got the building going,” Kavanaugh said of the early break in the action.

Dillard hit a pull up jumper on the ensuing possession. Kavanaugh fed Fabrizius in the lane for a layup, and Dayton led 9-2. Kavanaugh converted pairs of free throws on the following trips.

“Getting in there [at practice] and shooting 100 free throws every day really paid off.”

The Flyers played long ball for a12-2 run in the closing minutes to take a 40-29 lead into halftime.

Kevin Dillard found Josh Parker for an open three to start the run. Chris Johnson connected on the next possession.  Ralph Hill grabbed a defensive rebound, led Dillard with an outlet pass. Dillard quickly pulled up in transition for the trey.  Alex Gavrilovic made it 38-29 hitting one of two free throws. Dillard capped the run with a pull up jumper from ten feet.

“We were playing against a really, really tough La Salle team and earned a hard-fought victory,” Miller said. “I give Kavanaugh and Alex and our perimeter people for responding to Wednesday night.”

The second half started at break neck speed with the Flyers picking up where they left off.  Dillard drove the paint and kicked to Parker in the left corner for a 3-ball.

Earl Pettis connected in the lane for La Salle.

The Flyers inbounded the ball and Dillard found Kavanaugh ahead of the defense for a layup.

Jerrell Wright answered with a rebound and putback.

After a pair of Kavanaugh free throws, Pettis hit a pull up jumper just inside the arc and Dayton led 47-35.

The teams continued trading blows from there.

The Flyers put together an impressive possession with just under 15 minutes to go in the game. After the ball circled the floor with a quick succession of passes, Paul Williams let fly with a three that rimmed out. Ralph Hill secured the rebound and reset the offense with a pass to Dillard. Again the ball moved from side to side before Williams hit Hill for catch and shoot jumper at the free throw line.

La Salle wouldn’t go away.

Tyreek Duren and Sam Mills traded quick passes at the top of the key, and Duren drained a three. Mills pulled the Explorers within six connecting on his own trey.

The Flyers stretched the lead again.

Devin Oliver hit a pair from the charity stripe. Kavanaugh grabbed his own miss and finished and followed on consecutive possessions with free throws for a 74-62 lead with 3:02 remaining.

The Explorers battled back.

Pettis was fouled on the arc and connected on all three. Ramon Galloway drew contact with a drive and hit both from the line.  Pettis closed the gap to seven with a layup at the 2:10 mark. The senior’s traditional three-point play on a drive and foul made it 76-72.

Williams made a pair of free throws before Galloway’s three made it a one-possession game.

The Explorers had a chance to tie, but a 3-ball kicked off the iron.

Josh Parker sank one of two free throws to seal the victory.

The Flyers outrebounded La Salle 35-27 gaining a 20-10 advantage in second-chance points.

The Explorers shot 61.9 percent (13-21) in the second stanza.

La Salle falls to 2-1 in the Atlantic 10 and 13-5 overall.

Dayton improves to 3-1 and 13-5.

After leading by three at halftime the Flyers fell on Wednesday at St. Bonaventure 81-73.  Chris Johnson sat out the second half for precautionary measures. UD hosts I-75 rival, Xavier next Saturday.