Where: UD Arena
TV/Radio: Fox Sports Ohio; AM 1290, News 95.7 WHIO
OLD DOMINION GAME: Five takeaways | Photos | Game story | Davis blossoming | Notes
Probable Dayton starters
Darrell Davis, 6-5, Sr., G, 22.0 points per game
John Crosby, 6-3, Jr., G, 6.8
Josh Cunningham, 6-7, R-Jr., F, 15.0
Xeyrius Williams, 6-8, Jr., F, 8.8
Kostas Antetokounmpo, 6-10, R-Fr., F, 4.8
Probable Akron starters
Daniel Utomi, 6-6, So., F, 26.0
Malcolm Duvivier, 6-2, Gr., G, 12.0
Jimond Ivey, 6-5, Jr., G, 9.5
Torey Patton, 6-4, Fr., G, 5.0
Emmanuel Olajapoke, 6-8, So., F, 0.0
FEATURES: Kostas blocking shots | Too many 3s
Series history: Dayton leads 11-2 and has won 11 straight. Dayton beat Akron 76-68 in the last meeting on Nov. 16, 2010. Dayton is 2-0 against the Mid-American Conference this season and has won nine straight games vs. MAC teams.
Coaches: Anthony Grant is 2-2 as Dayton head coach. His career record in 10 seasons is 195-112.
Last games: Dayton lost 75-67 to Old Dominion in the fifth-place game at the Charleston Classic on Sunday. Akron beat Tennessee-Martin 76-59 on Saturday.
About Dayton: KenPom.com gives Dayton a 73 percent chance of winning this game. … This is the second straight season Dayton has started the season 2-2. … Sophomore guard Trey Landers missed the Old Dominion game with a sprained ankle, which he suffered in the previous game against Ohio. Coach Anthony Grant said Tuesday his status is day to day. … Freshman guard Jordan Davis is the top scorer off the bench, averaging 5.8 points per game.
About Akron: Patton is a Trotwood-Madison graduate who was the Division II Co-Player of the Year in Ohio last season. … John Groce is in his first season as Akron's head coach after five seasons at Illinois. Dayton assistant coach Darren Hertz was on Groce's staff the last two seasons. Groce's longtime assistant coach, Dustin Ford, is the brother of Geno Ford, who coached Dayton's Cunningham in his freshman season at Bradley. … Akron opened the season with a 67-57 victory over Cleveland State. … Akron finished 27-9 last season. It won 95 games in the last four seasons. Keith Dambrot left after last season, his 13th with the program, to coach Duquesne. … Utomi scored 32 points and made 8 of 11 3-pointers in the last game.
Note to fans: Saturday is UD's Toy For Tots Game. Fans can bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to the Dayton Toys for Tots Foundation. U.S. Marines will be on site to assist with donation collection.
Next game: Dayton plays Auburn at 7 p.m. Wednesday at UD Arena. The game will be televised by the CBS Sports Network.
About the Author
