March 5, 2008

Box Score |  Quotes

OLEAN, N.Y. --Brian Roberts scored 24 points, including the game-clinching free throws with nine seconds left, to lead Dayton to a 78-73 road win over St. Bonaventure in Olean, New York. Roberts moved into fifth on the UD All-Time Scoring List during the game.

The win, coupled with Richmond's win over Fordham, assured the Flyers of a berth in the post-season tournament of the tightly-packed Atlantic 10 Conference.

Dayton jumped out to a 24-7 lead on the strength of making its first six shots and nine of its first ten. But Bona answered by making 10 of its last 14 to send the teams to the locker room tied 43-43. The second half had four ties and nine lead changes. Dayton scored the first four points of the second half, but SBU went on a 9-2 run to take the lead.

The Flyers trailed by as much as four (55-51) at the 14:21 mark, but Roberts and fellow senior Jimmy Binnie scored UD's next seven points to tie the game at 58 with 10:46 to go. The game stayed nip-and-tuck until London Warren's three-pointer lifted Dayton to a lead (67-64 with 4:43 left) that it would not give up.

The visitors had an answer for every move the Bonnies would make down the stretch. A Roberts runner in the lane, a driving layup from the right wing by Charles Little, another leaner off the glass by Roberts made it 73-69 with 1:31 to go. SBU scored to make it 73-71, but a big three-pointer by Andres Sandoval with 21 seconds left assisted by Roberts (and made possible by an offensive rebound by Kurt Huelsman) kept St. Bonaventure at bay. After another Bonnie basket, Roberts then sealed the win with a pair of free throws with ten seconds left.

Marcus Johnson and Sandoval each had 13 points for the Flyers (19-9, 7-8 A10).

For the Bonnies (8-21, 2-13), Michael Lee scored a career-high 27 points and had nine rebounds. Tyler Relph added 20 points and Zarryon Fereti scored 16.

UD shot .600 (27-45) from the field and .824 (14-17) from the line for the game. After allowing St. Bonaventure shoot .636 (14-22) from the field in the first half, the Flyers held the Bonnies to .348 (8-23) in the second.

Dayton out-scored SBU in points in the paint (26-14), points off turnovers (24-12) and bench scoring (19-0).

Roberts' three-pointer with 13:03 left moved him into fifth place on the UD All-Time Scoring List. He now has 1,872 points, moving past Monk Meineke who had 1,866. Jim Paxson is in fourth place with 1,945 points. The win was UD's sixth road win of the season. That is the most since the Flyers won six road games in 2003-04.

Dayton closes out the regular season Saturday when the Saint Joseph's Hawks visit Tom Blackburn Court on Senior Day. Dayton seniors Jimmy Binnie, Brian Roberts and Andres Sandoval will be recognized in pre-game ceremonies beginning approximately eight minutes before the scheduled game time of 2:00 p.m. ET.