Flyers come up 2 short at USC

The Dayton Flyers rallied to force overtime on a last second bucket in regulation, but didn’t have enough magic in overtime losing to the Southern Cal Trojans 63-61.

Devin Oliver recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Kevin Dillard scored 11 of his team high 13 points at the free throw line.

The Flyers were just 2-of-14 from three-point range and committed 17 turnovers. Dayton did set a season high with 13 steals, four of them coming from Josh Benson.

 

Trailing by three in the OT, the Flyers got a defensive stop and called timeout with 5.8 seconds left. USC fouled Dillard intentionally rather than risk a game-tying 3-pointer. Dillard made both with 5.3 ticks to go.

The Trojans’ J.T. Terrell made one of two foul shots with 4.5 left. And Dillard was able to get off a 20-footer on the move, but it was wide left.

UD falls to 9-4, while USC, which had lost seven of its previous eight games, improves to 5-8.

Overtime almost did not happen. USC’s Jio Fontan, a one-time Fordham guard, drove to a basket with 5.5 seconds left for a 53-51 lead.

But Dillard penetrated and dished to Oliver, who made a lay-up as the horn sounded. The officials counted it and then checked the TV monitors. After huddling for a few tense minutes, the refs gathered again at midcourt and then counted the basket.

USC outrebounded Dayton 40-39 and hit 18-of-25 attempts at the free throw line.

 

Benson finished with 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Vee Sanford added nine points and six rebounds.

 

Up next for the Flyers is a home game against the UAB Blazers on Saturday, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. ET.