Feb. 25, 2009

Box Score |  Quotes

KINGSTON, R.I. - A 21-point, eight rebound effort from Marcus Johnson was overshadowed as the Dayton Flyers fell 93-91 to the Rhode Island Rams on a last second shot in overtime.

Five Flyers scored in double figures as Mickey Perry matched his career-best with 11 points and Devin Searcy added a career-best 10 points for UD. Chris Wright scored 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor and Charles Little added 11 points.

Dayton lost back-to-back games for the first time this season and three in a row on the road. UD dropped to 23-5 overall and 9-4 in the Atlantic 10. The loss was also the first of the season for Dayton in a game decided by five points or less.

Johnson tied the game at 91-91 with 13 seconds on the clock thanks to a three-pointer from the wing. On URI's next possession, Marquis Jones drove the lane and hit a reversed shot with no time remaining.

During the overtime session, Dayton battled with the Rams to try and extend its lead past two. Little connected on a layup to give UD a brief 88-86 lead. However, URI's Jimmy Baron sank a three from the corner to put the Rams ahead by one with less than a minute to go.

The defeat overshadowed a valiant second-half comeback by the Flyers. In regulation Dayton rallied for a 10-point deficit with timely defensive plays to force the extra session. London Warren had a lay-up and a steal in the final 27 seconds of play to help UD force overtime.

The Flyer defense then picked up the intensity and clawed back to tie the game at 72-72 when Warren sparked UD with two steals and a lay-up to lead the burst. Warren finished with six points, three rebounds, four assists and three steals.

However, after both teams traded baskets, the Rams drew a Flyer foul and converted a three-point play to push the lead to 78-73 at the 1:35 mark.

The Flyers responded when Perry tallied a three with 1:15 to cut the deficit to two. Perry scored all 11 of his points in the second half and finished the game 4-of-7 shooting from the field with two shots from beyond the arc.

Dayton forced a missed shot and got the rebound on the next URI possession with 39 seconds in regulation. Dayton held a 35-31 advantage on the glass and forced 15 Rhode Island turnovers.

Dayton hit 21-of-35 attempts at the free throw line and had trouble stopping the Ram offense. URI shot 52 percent from the field and 59 percent (10-of-17) from beyond the arc. In fact the Rams are only the second team this season to shoot 50 percent or better from the floor against the Dayton defense.

The Flyers shot 55 percent from the field and connected on 6-of-10 three point attempts. Other contributors for UD included Kurt Huelsman with six points and five rebounds and Stephen Thomas adding five points and four rebounds off the bench.

Dayton trailed 52-44 in the first half despite shooting 63 percent from the field and hitting all three attempts from three-point range. Johnson led UD with 12 points and four rebounds, while Wright added 10 points and Searcy and chipped in with eight points.

However, the Flyers' defense was almost non-existent in the first 20 minutes of play. The Rams shot 58 percent from the field and connected on 8-of-11 shots from beyond the arc. The Flyers stayed within four points during most of the first half until Rhode Island closed on a 7-0 run to extend its lead.

Dayton returns home to face the Temple Owls on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 4 p.m. ET.