BYU once again overcame a slow first half but hit key shots late in a 83-79 win over Dayton Friday night in the championship game of the Terry’s Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational.
BYU hit just 8 first half goals compared to 10 turnovers and went into halftime down 36-30. The free throw discrepancy kept BYU within striking distance. After Dayton opened the second half with a made three, BYU went on a 22-2 over the next 5 minutes to jump out to an 11-point lead. Dayton didn’t go away quietly and tied the game at 67 and then again at 70 in the final four minutes. Once Dayton tied the game at 67, BYU had four consecutive possession of a Rob Wright three, Richie Saunders made three plus free throw on a foul, Saunders made three again, and an AJ Dybantsa made jumper to go ahead 79-73.
BYU’s big three carried them once again. Richie Saunders led all scorers with 29 points, Rob Wright scored 23, and Dybantsa added 18. With Dawson Baker out, BYU’s bench attempted only three shots and scored zero points. Mboup played 17 minutes off the bench and grabbed 6 boards.
Dayton came into the game not particularly adept from three, but the Flyers canned 15 threes and found gaps in the BYU defense. Free throws were a swing in BYU’s factor; BYU was 15-18 from the foul line while the Flyers were 6-14.
BYU showed their sky-high ceiling with the 22-2 run in five minutes, but also showed their lapses in intensity in the first half and again in the second half after BYU went ahead 11. In the end, this should end up a Quad 1 or 2 win for BYU and will be a solid win to add to the resume.
BYU’s non-conference strength of schedule was 343 last year nationally, according to KenPom, and through 7 games this BYU’s SOS is 20.
BYU’s next game is Wednesday in the Delta Center versus 6-0 Cal Baptist, who has games at Oregon State and Colorado before they come to Salt Lake City.
