One season ago the Dayton Flyers lost eight games by a total of 17 points and two more contests in overtime. One year later, the Flyers have found a way to beat Samford, Kentucky, and now Marquette by a total of seven points. What a difference a year makes.

The University of Dayton Flyers improved their record to an unblemished 7-0 on the season with a gutsy 63-60 marathon over longtime rival Marquette. Played at Milwaukee Arena (formerly the MECCA) because of a Milwaukee Bucks game at the Bradley Center, Dayton exorcised the demons by winning at the renamed venue for the first time in nine tries. Dayton also stopped New Mexico’s 41-game non-conference home winning streak and a 25-game losing streak in Cincinnati earlier in the year. After a season of everything gone bad, 99-00 is turning into a year of everything going right.

The Flyers opened up the game by falling behind 8-4, but soon Marquette’s offense went ice cold and Dayton began hitting baskets every trip down the floor. Before long UD opened up a 23-14 lead and appeared to be surging ahead for a comfortable halftime cushion. Like all Marquette teams though, the Golden Eagle defense started clamping down and before long it was Dayton who couldn’t put the ball through the rim. Marquette clawed their way back into the contest at a point where they were 2-3 baskets from losing sight of the game entirely.

While Cordell Henry kept laying bricks in the first half, Brian Wardle took over and began hitting jumpers to close the deficit to just 29-24 at the half — it would have been closer but the Flyers made two free throws and MU missed a shot as time expired in the first frame.

The second half started off much like the first, as both teams traded early baskets. But Marquette started drawing fouls and scoring more easily, and eventually grinded out a 42-41 lead with under 11 minutes to play. The Flyers were frigid on the offensive end as Mark Ashman tried time and time again to score inside but couldn’t get his shots to fall. As has been the case all year however, someone in a Flyer uniform stepped up and kept the Flyers in the game. Yuanta Holland scored several baskets inside and grabbed a couple crucial rebounds on the defensive end as the game entered crunch time.

Other players made small but very meaningful contributions as Dayton retook the lead and eventually went ahead 60-50 with under two minutes remaining. Brooks Hall nailed a trey, Matt Cooper blocked a shot, Edwin Young made free throws, and the entire team survived Marquette’s desperation comeback.

With the score 60-50, Dayton looked like they had it all wrapped up, but the Golden Eagles scored seven points on the next two offensive possessions to close the gap to 63-57. Marquette made a basket, got fouled, missed the attempt, grabbed the rebound and made another basket, then sank a trey on the next trip. David Morris missed a pair of free throws in the final minute and the Golden Eagles had the ball and down by six. Fortunately, an MU trey missed the mark and Dayton survived yet another nailbiter in this young season as the game clock became the home team’s enemy and the Flyers’ friend. MU hit a half-court shot at the buzzer to put a cap on the final score.

Like nearly every game this season, someone in a Flyer uniform struggled. Tonight it was Ashman. But UD players continue to cover each other’s sore spots and keep the machine running. Tony Stanley played a solid defensive game, but wasn’t as dynamic on the offensive end as he has been in the last 3-4 contests. Cain Doliboa played just 14 minutes. Nate Green made a few big free throws, but finished with just two rebounds. Win number seven was a collective victory of grit and fortitude — a type of win that only good teams find a way to pull out. While Marquette’s 99-00 team won’t set the world on fire and compete for a C-USA title, they are good enough to cause problems for a lot of teams who don’t have the patience to stick with a plan and trust the coach.

Marquette has one of the best defenses in the country, and this year will be no different. If they can find a few scorers, the Golden Eagles will be a formidable opponent throughout the season.

Yuanta Holland scored 11 points and nabbed a team-high 7 boards while Tony Stanley led the Flyers in scoring with 13 points to go along with 6 rebounds. Mark Ashman scored just 5 points.