The Dayton Flyers released a YouTube video this week ranking the top 10 clutch plays in the 2015-16 season. Kendall Pollard and Darrell Davis cracked the list, but otherwise, it was the Scoochie Smith and Kyle Davis show.
A 25-8 season featured 15 games decided by six points or less. Here’s UD’s list:
1. Kyle Davis vs. Virginia Commonwealth
The junior guard made a difficult layup — and probably got fouled, though it wasn’t called — with 16 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Flyers a 68-67 victory on March 5 at UD Arena. That score stood up, and Dayton clinched a share of the Atlantic 10 title with VCU and St. Bonaventure.
“It was just out of the blue,” Davis said. “Scooch just called my name. I looked up, and he passed me the ball. I was wide open. Coach was on the sideline, telling me to drive the ball and attack the basket. Either I was going to get a foul or get a shot up.
No. 2: Kyle Davis vs. Miami
The Flyers would have suffered a stunning loss at home to a Miami RedHawks team that finished 13-20 if not for another difficult shot by Davis. He made a running one-handed jump shot with two seconds left, the final basket in a 64-63 victory on Dec. 22.
“How about KD baby!” WHIO’s Bucky Bockhorn said on the radio broadcast.
No. 3: Scoochie Smith vs. Iowa
The junior point guard Smith’s layup with 13 seconds left gave the Flyers an 80-77 lead on Nov. 26 in the first round of the Advocare Invitational in Orlando. Charles Cooke clinched an 82-77 victory on the next possession with two free throws.
No. 4: Kendall Pollard vs. Vanderbilt
The Flyers led 66-62 when the junior forward Pollard hit a long 3-pointer with 43 seconds left on the road at Vanderbilt on Dec. 9. It helped clinch a 72-67 victory in the only non-conference true road game of the season. Pollard made 3 of 14 3-pointers in the season.
No. 5: Darrell Davis vs. Rhode Island
The sophomore guard ended years of agony for the Flyers in Kingston, R.I., where they had lost six straight games since 2005. His 3-pointer with 20 seconds remaining on Feb. 12 gave UD a 67-66 lead, and they won 68-66.
“I’ve been at the gym after practice working on my shot with Archie (Miller),” Davis said. “He told me my time was coming and to stick with it.”
No. 6: Smith vs. VCU
The most intense game of the season featured another big shot. Smith’s layup with 11 seconds to play tied the game at 55. VCU missed two shots in the final seconds, and the game went to overtime.
No. 7: Smith vs. Duquesne
The Flyers trailed by 12 with 5:50 to go at home on Feb. 9. A 3-pointer by Smith with 47 seconds left completed the comeback and gave the Flyers a 73-70 lead. They won 76-74.
“I thank Dyshawn (Pierre) for the assist,” Smith said. “I was just ready to shoot as soon as I passed it into the post. It’s just a shot I shoot every day at practice.”
No. 8: Smith vs. Monmouth
Smith made a 3-pointer with 1:31 left against Monmouth on Nov. 21 at the Advocare Invitational in Orlando. The shot gave the Flyers a 71-67 lead, and they won 73-70.
No. 9: Kyle Davis vs. William & Mary
Davis stole an in-bounds pass at half-court against William & Mary on Nov. 21 at UD Arena and scored a layup to break a 62-62 tie with 57 seconds remaining. The Flyers won 69-66.
No. 10: Smith vs. Saint Louis
Smith tied a game against Saint Louis at 46-46 on a coast-to-coast layup with 36 seconds remaining in the second half, sending the game to overtime. The Flyers beat the Billikens 52-49 in St. Louis on Feb. 23.
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