Winners of eight of their last nine games, the UMass Minutemen invade the University of Dayton Arena as leaders of the Atlantic-10 Conference. Overall, UMass is 10-10, having battled through a six-game losing streak after winning the season opener. Highlighting this stretch of impressive play is a 65-64 win at Temple, and an impressive 75-64 win at Xavier. In their last game, UMass thoroughly outclassed Fordham by 26 points. The Dayton Flyers, meanwhile, are coming off an impressive victory of their own – at Duquesne by 19. The win improved Dayton to 13-9 overall and 4-5 in conference play.In defeating the Dayton Flyers in Amherst on Jan. 18, UMass shot a blistering 51% for the game – 59% in the second half – overcoming the Flyers 11 point first half lead. Leading the way in that contest was Kitwana Rhymer (9.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg). The 6’10″ senior stormed his way to 19 points and 13 rebounds.

Frontcourt mate Micah Brand (8.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg) contributed 14 points. The other primary forward, 6’8″ Jackie Rogers (6.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg) bulled his way to 16 points on 8-9 shooting as Dayton was unable to stop the UMass inside game.All of this negated a good game by the Flyers defensively on UMass’ main gun, Monty Mack. The senior guard and leader of the team is averaging 19.1 points per contest this year – the only Minuteman to average double figures in scoring. He is also the only one to average over 30 minutes of playing time. In the first game against the Flyers, Mack was held to seven points on 3-10 shooting. Beyond the arc, Mack was 1-7.Offensively, it was a game of two halves, and primarily a one-man show. Tony Stanley (17.4 ppg, 4.8 rbd), put it together at the Mullins Center and led Dayton with 23 points. Fifteen came from three-point land. The only other Flyer in double figures was freshman-of-the-year candidate Keith Waleskowski (11.5 ppg, 7.3 rbd). He chipped in 11 points, and led UD with eight rebounds. Nobody else on the squad finished with more than six points.

As a team, Dayton blistered the nets to the tune of 57% shooting in the first half – including 6-7 from long range. However, in the second half, UD struggled at 2-13 from three land, and 34% from the field. Perhaps the most telling stat of the night, however, was that the Flyers only attempted seven free throws for the game.Right now, both teams need wins badly. UMass is making a serious push to win the conference and head into the A10 tournament as the #1 seed. Dayton still harbors hopes for an at-large bid to the NCAA’s. For that to happen there is little margin for error. If Dayton hopes to win and take that first step, they must apply the same pressure to Mack and force him into another bad night. Of course, by doing this, they cannot allow Brand, Rhymer, and Rogers to combine for almost 50 points.