SPORTS
Men’s Basketball Erased 19-Point Deficit, but Fell in Closing Seconds to Dayton, 74-73
Luke Frampton takes a shot from behind the 3-pt arc as the ‘Cats rallied in the second half against the Flyers.
DAVIDSON, N.C. – After Davidson rallied from 19 down to tie the score, Josh Cunningham hit a free throw with 2.2 seconds left to lift Dayton over the Wildcats, 74-73, Tuesday evening at John M. Belk Arena.
Kellen Grady drives it in for a layup against the Flyers.
The setback ended a 17-game home winning streak for Davidson, which falls to 19-7 overall and 10-3 in the A-10. Each of the Wildcats’ three losses in league play has come in the closing seconds and by a total of five points.
Trailing 63-44 with 9:38 to play, Davidson stormed back with a 27-8 streak capped by a Kellan Grady steal and two-handed jam to even the score 71-71 with 1:11 remaining.
Junior Jon Axel Gudmundsson led the ‘Cats with 26 points against Dayton.
The teams traded layups the next two trips before Cunningham was fouled and made the second of his two free throws. The ‘Cats had one final look, but Grady’s long 3-pointer caromed off.
Cunningham made all six of his attempts from the floor and hit 9-of-10 at the line to lead the way for the Flyers with 21 points. Obi Toppin added a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Jordan Davis and Ryan Mikesell scored 15 and 10, respectively.
Jon Axel Gudmundsson paced Davidson with 26 points to go along with 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Grady (18) and KiShawn Pritchett (13) also scored in double figures for the Wildcats, who shot 56.3 percent in the second half.
Davidson finished 17-of-20 at the line and held a 36-29 advantage on the glass, including 10 at the offensive end, leading to 15 second-chance points.
KiShawn shooting a 3-pt shot.
Dayton (17-9, 9-4 A-10), which held the Wildcats to just 7-of-25 shooting in the opening 20 minutes, used a pair of first-half runs to grab a 37-25 advantage at the break.
The Flyers finished the game shooting 48 percent (24-50) and went 19-for-26 from the charity stripe.
Up Next
Davidson will hit the road for two straight beginning with a 9 p.m. contest at Rhode Island Friday.