Dayton Pushes #5 Iowa State to the Wire But Falls 89-84

After a heart-breaking second half collapse against #12 North Carolina in the first day of games at the Maui Invitational, the Dayton Flyers funneled to the loser's side of the bracket to take on #5 Iowa State  -- another team that squandered a large lead on Monday against #4 Auburn. In the battle of wounded animals, ISU made just enough plays in the final three minutes to outlast Dayton 89-84 and send UD to the 7th place game on Wednesday in a fight for crumbs against #2 UConn.   The Flyers fall to 5-1 while the Iowa State improves to 3-1.
Dayton came into the contest with an 0-2 lifetime record against Iowa State, getting swept in a home/home series at UD Arena and Hilton Coliseum in 1987 and 1988.  Once again clear underdogs, the game was as much an opportunity to showcase short-term memory as it was getting off the mat and figuring out a way to beat a Top-5 opponent. Both teams had much to play for and the side that felt the least sorry for themselves would get a second chance to make a good first impression in the early stages of the college basketball season.
UD opened up an early nine-point lead on Zed Key baskets inside and triples by Nate Santos and Malachi Smith, but ISU ...