Saint Joseph's University will welcome the Dayton Flyers to Hagan Arena on Saturday, January 24, for a crucial Atlantic 10 Conference men's basketball game. Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m., providing both teams a chance to solidify their standings mid-season. Dayton enters with a strong 14-5 overall record and 5-1 in conference play.
The matchup marks a pivotal moment in the A-10 schedule, with Dayton looking to rebound from a narrow 67-64 loss to La Salle earlier in the week. The Flyers were selected third in the preseason poll, earning three first-place votes in a competitive race. Leading Dayton's offense is guard Javon Bennett, averaging 16.5 points per game to rank third in the A-10, alongside De'Shayne Montgomery (14.7 ppg) and Amaël L'Etang (11.1 ppg). Forward Keonte Jones anchors the rebounding with 5.9 per game, while Bennett tops the team with 52 assists.
Defensively, Dayton excels at disrupting opponents, ranking sixth nationally in turnovers forced (16.7 per game) and 11th in steals (9.8). They also draw frequent trips to the free-throw line, sitting 11th in made free throws (19.8) and 21st in attempts (26.2). However, vulnerabilities exist: the Flyers rank last in the A-10 in total rebounds (33.0 per game) and 232nd nationally in defensive rebounds (24.0). Their bench contributes modestly at 17.3 points per game (307th nationally), and they allow 35.1% from three-point range, placing them outside the top 100.
Under head coach Anthony Grant, in his ninth season at Dayton with a 186-88 record there, the program has a storied history including six NCAA Tournament appearances and eight NIT bids over his 18-year coaching career. Saint Joseph's returns home for this nationally televised contest, aiming to capitalize on the familiar confines of Hagan Arena.
