First thoughts from the University of Dayton Flyers victory over the La Salle University Explorers.
By PAUL GOTHAM
Kendall Pollard paced four in double figures, and Dayton’s defense held La Salle’s shooters under 40 percent for the night as the Flyers opened Atlantic 10 play with a 66-55 victory.
Right on Time
Sidelined earlier in the season with a thigh injury, Pollard opened conference play with a season-high 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting. The 20 points represents the most the senior forward has scored since December 9th 2015 – a 21-point outing in a 72-67 UD win at then No. 21 Vanderbilt. Pollard followed that performance with 20 points in a loss to Chattanooga. Three games later, the 6-foot-6 forward played just 15 minutes in a win over Duquesne. He sat out the next two contests with an injury and four more later in a season he spent slowed by injuries. Friday, Pollard topped the 20-point plateau for the eighth time in his career. Good sign for UD fans if the Chicago native can finish his career healthy.
Taking Away The Opponents’ Strength
La Salle’s B.J. Johnson and Jordan Price came into the contest averaging a combined 38 points. Dayton’s defense limited the duo to a combined 18 points on 6-of-20 shooting. The Flyers held Price to seven attempts – seven under his season average of 14 a game. Price committed seven turnovers in 37 minutes. La Salle entered play ranked 18th in the country with just 10.9 turnovers per contest. Against the Flyers, Dr. John Giannini’s squad committed 20 mishandles. The Flyers converted those opportunities into 25 points. Dayton limited La Salle to to 22 scores on 71 possessions and 18 of 50 (36 percent) shooting. Leading up to the game, La Salle averaged 84.2 points a game.
Pivotal Stretch
Trailing 20-15 with 9:10 to go in the first half, UD’s John Crosby scored five straight – a layup and then a 3-pointer after a Kendall Pollard steal. That triggered a decisive 19-3 run where the Flyers scored on nine of 16 possessions. At the same time, La Salle endured a drought of 6:08. Six different Flyers scored during the run with Xeyrius Williams finishing a layup to make it 32-23, and Charles Cooke capping the run. Dayton eventually led by as many as 17. La Salle never got any closer than eight.
Shades of LeBron
Okay, maybe a little overstatement. Cooke highlighted the run with a dominant sequence where he blocked an Amar Stukes shot at one end and finished with a layup on the ensuing play with a layup at the other end. Not quite the LeBron James display on Christmas day where the King scored, was knocked to the floor and caught up to the play for a block at the other end. All right maybe Cooke’s effort is more than a little overstated. Still noteworthy. Not a good sign when Cooke left late in the game after tumbling to the floor on a drive to the bucket.
From Rembrandt to Van Gogh…
UD did work in the paint outscoring La Salle 42-16 from 15 feet in. The rest of the numbers: UD outscored La Salle 25-15 in points off turnovers. Both squads scored 10 fast-break points. UD hit 15 of 31 free throws. La Salle finished 10 of 14 from the stripe. UD collected eight second-chance points to La Salle’s four. The Flyers assisted on 17 of 24 made field goals. La Salle had 12 of 18. Cooke finished with 13 points. Kyle Davis had 12 and Scoochie Smith 11 for the Flyers. Cookie Powell paced La Salle with 23. Dayton scored on 35 of 72 possessions.
Up Next
Dayton travels to Olean to play St. Bonaventure on Tuesday. The 8 pm tip will be broadcast on the American Sports Network. La Salle will host Saint Louis on Wednesday.
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