Flyers nearly victims of rally against George Mason

By Doug Harris, Staff Writer 11:57 PM Tuesday, December 8, 2009

FAIRFAX, Va. — The University of Dayton basketball team has been haunting opponents while coming back from seemingly unassailable deficits this season, but the Flyers finally sampled some of the pain they’ve been inflicting on others.

The Flyers took a 39-21 lead early in the second half, but George Mason went on a 17-2 run and eventually pulled to within two with 6:55 to go.

UD, though, made enough free throws in the final two minutes, just enough (5-of-8), to hold on for a 56-55 win Tuesday, Dec. 8.

“I’m disappointed with the second half, but we’re flying home with another road win,” said UD coach Brian Gregory. “(Beating) Miami and George Mason, I’m not sure if you looked at the schedule, you’d think you’d win those games.”

Lowery supported

All visiting players get four complimentary tickets, and Rob Lowery, a Forestville, Md., native snapped up nearly all of his teammates’ freebies, leaving 50 for family and friends.

Asked how he liked having all that support, he said: “It’s the best, there’s nothing like it. Some people aren’t blessed to have a family like that. It’s good.”

Lowery, recovering from a knee injury, was told by the medical staff he could play 10 minutes after seeing eight minutes of action in his debut Saturday. He played eight minutes and had two points on a pair of foul shots, missing all four of his field-goal attempts.

Stammen cheers Flyers

Craig Stammen, a former UD pitcher who made the starting rotation for the Washington Nationals this past season, attended the game and was pulling for the Flyers.

“I’ve been to more UD games than I can count,” the Versailles native said. “I remember Chip Hare, Norm Grevey, Negele Knight. I used to come to games when I was 5, 6 and 7, and sit up real high.”

Stammen, 25, has a home in Bethesda, Md., about a 30-minute drive from George Mason.

Couple wins free trip

Jack Thomas of Clayton thought his friends might be pulling a prank on him when he was told he won a trip for two to UD’s game at George Mason.

Thomas, who founded A-1 Carpet Inc. in Dayton 55 years ago, and his wife, Pauline, were selected from a pool of UD season-ticket holders who had perfect attendance at home games last year. They rode on the Flyers’ charter flight, stayed at the team hotel and were treated to meals and even a chalk talk from Gregory.

The trip’s value was $2,200.

“I must have had 50 customers say, ‘Would you sell me that trip? I’d love to do that,’ ” Jack said.

Pauline had a little fun at the expense of her sister, Mary Ann Schlater, who also is a season-ticket holder. Pauline left a voice mail with Schlater during the Flyers’ early afternoon shoot-around Tuesday, saying, ‘I thought you’d like to hear the sounds of the Flyers practicing.’ She then held her cell phone in the air to pick up the sound of bouncing basketballs.

The UD promotion is meant to discourage no-shows at games, which historically have ranged at nearly 20 percent but hasn’t been much of a problem in recent seasons.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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