Preview: Dayton vs. La Salle

Who: Dayton (10-6, 0-2 Atlantic 10) at La Salle (11-4, 1-1)

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Gola Arena

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Ohio/WHIO 95.7, 1290

Dayton starters

  • Kevin Dillard, 6-0, Sr., G, 15.0 ppg.
  • Vee Sanford, 6-3, Jr., G, 12.5
  • Josh Benson, 6-9, Sr., F, 10.7
  • Devin Oliver, 6-7, Jr., F, 9.8
  • Dyshawn Pierre, 6-6, Fr., F, 7.3

La Salle starters

  • Tyreek Duren, 6-0, Jr., G, 15.1
  • Ramon Galloway, 6-3, Sr., G, 17.1
  • Sam Mills, 6-2, Jr., G, 7.4
  • D.J. Peterson, 6-5, So., G, 4.6
  • Jerrell Wright, 6-8, So, F, 10.8

About Dayton

The Flyers, picked to finish eighth in the A-10 (one spot behind La Salle), have dropped their first two conference games for the first time since starting 0-4 in 2005-06. Both losses came against ranked teams, VCU and Butler. … Oliver is averaging a league-best 9.1 rebounds. Only one other Flyer has topped 9.0 for a season since Ryan Perryman led the nation in rebounding with a 12.5 average in 1997-98 — Keith Waleskowski pulled down 9.9 in 2003-04. … Pierre is 15-for-31 (48.4 percent) on 3-pointers. … Sub Matt Derenbecker is 16-for-30 from beyond the arc in the last eight games. … The Flyers out-rebounded VCU and Butler by a combined 26 boards and have a plus-4.9 rebounding margin this season.

About La Salle

The Explorers, who are second in the A-10 in scoring (73.5 average), have a guard-oriented attack. Not only do they start four, but they have a backcourt sub, Tyron Garland, averaging 14.3 points. … Steve Zack, a 6-11 sophomore center, started the first 14 games but came off the bench in a 71-59 win Saturday over Richmond and had 11 points and six rebounds. … The Explorers are adept at forcing opponents into mistakes and protecting the ball. They have a plus-3.7 turnover margin, the second-best mark in the league. … With a small lineup, rebounding has been an issue. They’re minus-1.5 in rebound margin this season. And their field-goal percentage defense is an anemic 44.0 percent, 15th in the league.

Quote, unquote

“I think Dayton’s played well this year. Dillard is terrific. They have good team size and athleticism. They rebound the ball hard. They’ve got guys who can score inside. … I think they’re a very solid team on both ends of the court,” La Salle coach John Giannini said.

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