Field Level Media
Jan 2, 2020
Obi Toppin scored 20 points and No. 20-ranked Dayton held host La Salle to 34.8 percent shooting from the floor en route to an 84-58 win Thursday in the Atlantic 10 opener in Philadelphia.
Dayton (12-2, 1-0 Atlantic 10) used an 18-0 run over four minutes of the first half to build a 24-point lead. The Flyers' cushion remained at 20 points or more for the rest of the game.
Toppin shot 7-of-9 from the floor and went 5-of-5 from the free-throw line. He was one of five Flyers to score in double figures.
The quintet also included Jalen Crutcher with 15 points, Ryan Mikesell (11), and Trey Landers and Ibi Watson (10 each).
Rodney Chatman added nine points.
Dayton's balanced scoring was the result of effective and unselfish ball movement. Twenty-two of the Flyers' 31 made field goals were assisted, led by Landers with six.
With its offense clicking, Dayton locked La Salle down on the other end.
The Explorers (9-4, 0-1) shot just 3-of-17 from behind the 3-point line, underscoring their struggles to make baskets consistently. They finished 23 of 66 overall from the floor.
Ed Croswell led La Salle with 14 points and Isiah Deas added 10 points. Off the bench, Ayinde Hikim scored nine points and dished four assists, and Christian Ray scored seven points and grabbed seven rebounds.
With Dayton missing so few shots, especially before the game's final minutes, La Salle came away with just 18 rebounds on the defensive side. The Explorers had just one board fewer on offense.
The Flyers closed with a 38-35 advantage on the glass, with Landers grabbing eight rebounds and Mikesell and Toppin seven each.
--Field Level Media