By PAUL GOTHAM
COLUMBUS, OH — Wednesday night Jordan Sibert capped his playing career at the University of Dayton Arena the way he started it – hitting a game-winner from behind the arc.
The latter takes its place in Dayton Flyers’ folklore. A catch-and-shoot trey from the top of the key as UD rallied from nine back to defeat the Boise State Broncos, 56-55 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s second round.
“To be able to make that shot in my last night in the arena was just amazing,” Sibert said during Thursday’s press conference. “I’m glad I was able to leave out a second time on a good note.”
Sibert used a Kendall Pollard screen in the lane to free himself for a Scoochie Smith feed with 35 seconds remaining.
“Scooch made a great pass, and Kendall had a great screen for me and I was able to knock down the shot,” Sibert commented.
After playing just 24 minutes because of foul trouble, Sibert finished with 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor including 2-of-4 behind the arc. It was his 11th consecutive double-digit game.
“When you’ve got a group of people like this around you who, no matter foul trouble, shots going in or not, they just keep telling you to shoot the ball and believe in yourself,” Sibert noted. “It’s easy to go out there and catch a good rhythm and shoot it.”
Sibert came to Dayton from Ohio State where he played with the 2012 Buckeyes’ team which reached the Final Four. The Cincinnati native averaged 11 minutes in 24 games during that 2011-12 season.
“Jordan’s really evolved,” Dayton’s head coach Archie Miller said. “Jordan wasn’t a very confident guy when we got him. And he took a year to work with him and develop and he worked very hard on his shot. I think that’s the first thing that he took care of. He became a consistent shooter.”
Sibert averaged 12.2 points a season ago when the Flyers reached the Elite Eight.
“I think last year, playing the first time with a real big role, he was able to play through the season and gain confidence that he belonged again,” Miller added. “This offseason, to his credit, was the best offseason that he’s ever had.”
Sibert has increased his average while becoming a larger focus of the UD attack and increased his free throw percentage more than two free tosses per contest.
“He gets to the foul line a lot more,” Miller continued. “He’s a better handler. He’s stronger. When you’re a fifth-year senior, you’re different, the game is slower for you. I think as we’ve been able to win games and gain confidence, he’s just become that guy for us. He’s an all-star all year for us and I’m happy for him. He did it the old-fashioned way.”
Sibert started his career at UD Arena with a game-winning three-pointer versus IPFW on Nov. 9, 2013.
“I realized after the game after everybody was kind of telling me about how important the shot was,” Sibert said.
Dayton takes on Providence in a second-round matchup Friday night.
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