The Flyers closed out the Jerry DeGregorio era at the University of Rhode Island and moved into the A-10 Tourney Quarterfinals with an 85-59 rout of the Rams. Despite landing several Top-100 recruits, the Rams never reached double digit wins under DeGregorio. A lack of a post presence and the inability to play as a team plagued the Rams throughout his tenure. The story was much the same on Wednesday night.

The Flyers soundly defeated the Rams in Kingston earlier in the year with Keith Waleskowski contributing a career-high 24 points. But there was some trepidation on the part of the coaching staff as they were concerned the Flyers might take Rhode Island lightly. And that fear was justifiable as this was a different Rhode Island team. For one, they came into the game on a two-game win streak. Second, Tiger Womack, a 6’9″ transfer from LSU, and Brian Woodward, a former New York Player of the Year, were back in the lineup. Both missed the previous game against the Flyers. During their win streak, Rhode Island pushed the ball and attacked the rim from the perimeter.The Flyer game plan was to take advantage of the Rams on the interior and to limit them in transition. To a large extent they were successful in executing that plan. Dayton dominated the glass, outrebounding the smaller Rams 45-33. Keith Waleskowski led the Flyers with 10 rebounds and chipped in 10 points. Nate Green added 12 points and Sean Finn nabbed seven boards in just eight minutes of action. And the Flyers limited the Rams transition opportunities and penetration scoring. Rhode Island shot 28% in the first half and just 35% for the game. However, Dayton failed to execute the game plan on offense in the early going by taking quick treys on several trips. Eight of the Flyers first 11 shots came from behind the arc, and the Flyers led just 12-11. However the Flyers then went on a 10-1 run to open a double-digit lead. The run was capped off by a Ramod Marshall bomb. Dayton led 36-24 at the half, but shot just 37% from the field and 55% from the free throw line.

The Flyers did a much better job of executing the offensive game plan in the second half. While the Flyers managed to hoist 26 treys for the game, they ball got inside in the second frame. Waleskowski scored all 10 of his points in the second half. The focus on pounding the ball into the post produced 60% shooting in the second frame, including many wide open looks from beyond the arc. The Flyers opened a 25-point lead at 60-35, but then watched the Rams run off 10 in row to cut the lead to 15. The lead remained at 15 until the Flyers went on a 14-5 run to open an 81-57 lead. Brooks Hall led the Flyers with a career-high 24 points, including 7 of 10 shooting from behind the arc. Marshall added 18 points and 7 assists. Tony Stanley was the fifth Flyer in double figures with 10 points and contributed 7 rebounds. David Morris added 7 points and 8 assists.

The Flyers move on to face the Temple Owls Thursday at 7:00pm. Temple won the two previous meetings, erasing a 13-point Flyer lead in the second half at the UD Arena. The Flyers must contain Kevin Lyde on the offensive glass and limit Lynn Greer if they hope to move on in their quest for the automatic NCAA bid.