Dayton defeats Fordham 63-56

Dayton Edges Fordham in Thrilling Conference Showdown

In a hard-fought and tightly contested conference matchup, the Dayton Flyers emerged victorious over the visiting Fordham Rams, 63-56.

The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to gain a significant advantage until the latter stages of the contest. At halftime, the home team led by just six points, but it was clear that this was a game for the ages.

As the second half got underway, Dayton's Jordan Derkack took center stage, leading the Flyers on a 13-0 run to take a 30-point lead at one point. However, Fordham refused to go away, and Dejour Reaves led the charge, scoring 12 points in the final 10 minutes to keep his team within striking distance.

In the end, it was Dayton's balanced attack that proved too much for Fordham to handle. Derkack's all-around performance - 15 points, 14 rebounds, and three assists - was a key factor in the Flyers' win. His dominance in the paint allowed Dayton to control the boards and limit Fordham's chances on the glass.

Fordham, meanwhile, struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 26% from three-point range. Reaves' 18 points were the most for either team, but his efforts couldn't overcome the Flyers' depth and resilience.

The advanced statistics told a similar story. Dayton's true shooting percentage of 50.9 was significantly higher than Fordham's 44.1%, while the Flyers' eFG% of 46.3 was nearly identical to their opponents' mark of 42.5%. The difference in turnover rates, however, was telling - Dayton committed just eight turnovers to Fordham's 15.

In a game that had all the makings of an upset, it was ultimately the home team's experience and cohesion that proved decisive. As the final buzzer sounded, the Flyers celebrated a well-deserved win over their Atlantic 10 Conference rivals.

Game Leaders

Dayton:

* Jordan Derkack: 15 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists

* Jordan Derkack (again!): also had 13 points

Fordham:

* Dejour Reaves: 18 points, 6 assists, 2 rebounds