Using a devastating press in the second half, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats clawed their way from a 13 point second half deficit to upend the University of Dayton Flyers 82-75. In the process, UC – now 3-1 on the young season – extended their stranglehold over the Flyers – winning their 10th game in a row in the series. A 23-6 run midway through the half was fueled by missed free throws, turnovers, and hot shooting by the Bearcats.The Flyers, 2-2 now on the season, returned from a successful trip in the Maui Invitational to a raucous sellout crowd and a Top-25 ranking in more than a quarter century and did not disappoint the home fans. Dayton lead for all but three minutes in the first half, building as much as a seven point lead. Senior guard Tony Stanley lead the way for UD with 21 points overall – 14 in the first half. Brooks Hall also pumped in 17 points, 12 coming from beyond the arc.

Keeping UC within shouting distance of the Flyers in the first half was junior point guard Steve Logan. Overcoming a dreadful start to his season, Logan scored seven of UC’s first 11 points, and finished with tied with Stanley for game-high honors at 21 points. In the second half, when UC needed it most, sure-fire future NBA guard Kenny Satterfield led the way with 13 of his 19 points.Nursing a five-point lead at the break, Dayton went on a 13-5 run to open the second period. Five different Flyers accounted for those 13 points as UD continually distributed the ball well and attacked the basket. UC coach, Bob Huggins, sensing the game slipping away, employed the full-court press to UD – and UC was on their way back. In one minute, seven points were shaved off the lead. Then after a Yuanta Holland (13 pts, 13 rbd) basket, one of the bigger plays in a game of big plays occurred. Dayton missed three straight free throws, and in response, UC’s Leonard Stokes (16 pts, 7 rbd) nailed his only three-pointer of the game…and was fouled by Nate Green (2 pts, 3 rbd), resulting in a four-point play. This cut UD’s lead to 58-56 with 10 minutes to play.From that point on, the Bearcats gained momentum with each passing moment, and each Flyer turnover.

In the final stats, Dayton turned the ball over almost 20 times – mostly against UC’s pressure. Instead of attacking the press, UD seemed more occupied by simply getting the ball across halfcourt and then running time off the clock. Even still, when the Flyers were bailed out by getting to the free throw line, it made no difference. In the decisive minutes of the game, Dayton missed nine free throws.Last year, the Dayton Flyers got one monkey off their back by beating the Miami Redhawks for the first time in a decade. Tonight, many of the 13,500+ in attendance sought to slay another dragon from the past – beating Cincy. But despite out-rebounding the Cats by 19, the Flyers fell victim to ice-cold shooting in the second half, a hot press, and costly turnovers. Now Dayton must regroup and avoid a letdown as Marshall comes calling at the Arena on Saturday afternoon. Marshall took this same UC ballclub to the wire at the Shoemaker Center. Of particular interest to the Flyers, former Dayton guard Edwin Young’s younger brother, Travis, plays for the Thundering Herd and is averaging 18 points per game. In addition, Dayton must find a way to stop potential NBA lottery pick Tamar Slay and his 23 points per contest.