3 takeaways from Dayton’s loss to Houston in Charleston Classic final

On November 20th, the Flyer Faithful enjoyed a leisurely Saturday in Charleston, strolling along the battery and relaxing at Folly Beach before patronizing the bars and restaurants that dot the city. The following day, they filled the TD Arena for the third time in four days, eager for one more day of excitement at the Charleston Classic.

Unfortunately, No. 6 Houston crushed the hopes of both the UD fans and the team by taking an early 10-0 lead and maintaining control throughout the game, securing a 69-55 victory.

Despite the loss, Dayton’s finish in the tournament was its best yet, surpassing its previous placements in 2012 and 2017. The team had entered the tournament looking to make a mark and succeeded in securing two wins against LSU and St. John’s in the first two days. The loss to Houston, the top team in the Ken Pomeroy ratings, won’t severely impact their chances of an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.

Historically, Dayton has secured NCAA tournament bids and managed to win two out of three games in its November tournaments, with 2020 being a notable exception due to the tournament’s cancellation.

Coach Anthony Grant emphasized the significance of these games, linking them to the ultimate goal of making an impact in March. He stated, “These games are really important. You have an opportunity to put yourself in a position where you’re in a conversation for what happens in March. That’s the goal. We always talk about the beginning with the end in mind.”

Following the game, Dayton (3-2) returned home, with eight non-conference games still ahead. Here are three notable takeaways from their fifth game:

1. Offensive rebounds and second-chance points proved to be a challenge for Dayton against Houston, similar to the issues faced in the game against Northwestern earlier this month.

2. In terms of shooting, Dayton struggled against Houston’s strong defense, making only 4 of 18 3-pointers (22.2%) and experiencing their second-worst shooting performance of the season.

3. Dayton continued to enjoy a significant fan presence, but this did not translate into a victory as they fell behind early on and were unable to mount a serious challenge to Houston’s lead.

Looking ahead, Dayton will face Youngstown State (3-2) at UD Arena, aiming to recover from their recent defeat and secure a much-needed victory.

Statistics from the game revealed that Houston’s senior guard LJ Cryer emerged as the star, leading all scorers with 18 points and making a significant impact on the court.

With their eyes set on future games, Dayton seeks to bounce back from the loss and create a strong foundation for the rest of the season.