DAYTON — Most players on the University of Dayton basketball team have enough seasoning that they don’t get rattled in dire situations — even if opponents seem to have them locked in a crocodile death roll.

The Flyers (3-2) were down by 10 to Creighton, seven to Georgia Tech and 18 to Towson (Md.), and managed to pull out wins.

Even in their two defeats, they showed poise under pressure, cutting an 18-point deficit to two against Villanova and whittling a 15-point margin to three against Kansas State.

On one hand, the ability to keep from panicking in the worst of times may be an admirable quality, but Flyers coach Brian Gregory wouldn’t mind if his team never had to put that trait on display again.

“I’d prefer not to get in situations where panic could come in,” he said with a slight smile. “We have a very experienced group, especially with our perimeter players. But we always talk about how it’s a 40-minute game, and we have to make sure that for all 40 minutes we’re competing.”

The Flyers probably will need to be engaged from start to finish against Miami tonight, Dec. 2. The RedHawks (2-4) lost by just two against fourth-ranked Kentucky in Rupp Arena and are coming off a 24-point clubbing of Evansville.

The Flyers have won three straight in the rivalry and seven of the last nine, but they’re 3-13 in Millett Hall since 1983.

“It’s a game everybody looks forward to, especially at Miami,” UD junior forward Chris Wright said. “It’s a rough, rough environment that’s going to be tough for us, but that’s where players are made.”

UD has played Miami 127 times, more than any other foe except Xavier (149).

“It’s a game that’s important to both groups of players and both universities,” Gregory said. “And over the long haul, they’re always going to be competitive games.”