Pregame at historic UD Arena, site of more NCAA tournament games than any other venue.

The Dayton Flyers prepare to take the court on New Year's Day against visiting New Mexico.


The non-conference matchup pitted the 11-3 Flyers against the 11-2 Lobos with possible Selection Sunday implications.



Standout forward Chris Wright led the Flyers to a 76-73 win in double overtime.  Wright, a Trotwood-Madison grad who had interest from powerhouse teams like Texas and Michigan State, opted to stay in Dayton so that his mother could see his home games. 

New Mexico freshman Alex Kirk (L), Dayton's Wright (M), and Lobos junior Drew Gordon all vie for a rebound.



These Flyers can really fly.  Dayton freshman Juwan Staten soars over all players for his first dunk of the season.

Wright takes off with one of the infamous dunks which has earned him the nickname Top Flyght. (Spelled with a Y in homage to the Flyers.)

Wright and UCLA-transfer Drew Gordon battled under (and over) the basket all night.  Gordon, coming off a knee injury, was playing in just his fifth game of the season.  He finished with 10 points and five boards.

Wright (33) and Matt Kavanaugh fight for a rebound with New Mexico's AJ Hardeman. 

No signs of knee trouble in this shot, as Gordon (32) reaches up for a rebound off a missed shot by Wright.

Dayton freshman Brandon Spearman attempts a shot against New Mexico's AJ Hardeman
 


In a battle of big men, Dayton's Matt Kavanaugh goes up for a shot against Gordon.  Kavanaugh finished with three points and five boards off the bench before fouling out.

Neither team shot well from the field or the foul line, and Dayton squandered easy opportunities to win in he closing seconds of both regulation and the first overtime.  In the final five minute period, though, the Flyers pulled away.  UD Head Coach Brian Gregory adds, "One good thing about our guys, they weren’t discouraged."

New Mexico's Dairese Gary takes a fall, but led all scorers with 19 points including a layup setting up the first overtime.


Lobos forward Chad Adams came off the bench with five points.

Wright controlled the ball on both ends of the court, finishing with 17 points and 14 rebounds.

Staten goes up to shoot.  A native Daytonian and graduate of Oak Hill Academy, Staten turned down multiple offers to honor a commitment he made to UD head coach Brian Gregory in his sophomore year in high school.

Flyer Chris Johnson looks on as Staten, who finished with seven points, questions a call.  Johnson chipped in 15 points, seven boards and three assists.

 

Cheerleaders had no trouble getting the nearly 13,000 Flyer Faithful on their feet for two overtime periods.


At UD, cheerleaders distribute buckets of hot wings to lucky fans.  Beats tossing out nerf basketballs.

 

Dayton celebrates its holiday victory.  "We beat an exceptionally talented and well-coached team today," Gregory said after the win.  Next up, the Flyers head out on the road for dates with Saint Louis and UMass.