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Parker gets back in groove for Flyers

By Doug Harris, Staff Writer Updated 2:25 AM Sunday, February 12, 2012

NEW YORK — Josh Parker, the University of Dayton senior guard, hasn’t had to worry about whether he’d get more chances to break out of his shooting slump.

Coach Archie Miller has been reassuring him to keep chucking away.

“Coach tells me all the time, ‘Keep shooting. If you have open shots, they’re going to fall,’ ” Parker said.

They finally did against Fordham in a 72-70 overtime win Saturday. Parker finished with 14 points by going 3-for-7 from the field and 6-for-6 from the foul line as UD won for the first time since knocking off Xavier on Jan. 21.

Falling behind 49-45 with 11:40 to go in the second half, the Flyers ripped off seven points in a row, five of them from Parker. His 3-pointer with 7:30 left gave UD a 52-49 lead, its biggest in regulation.

Over his previous four games, all losses, Parker was 5-for-23 from the field.

“It’s been tough not playing the way you know you’re capable of playing — especially when the team is losing,” he said. “But I just had to stick with it and hope I’d come out of it.”

Parker was assigned to guard the Fordham player in-bounding the ball as UD protected a two-point lead in the OT with 3.5 seconds left. He ended up with a steal after the pass bounced off teammate Matt Kavanaugh’s foot and trickled in Parker’s direction.

Kicking the ball is a violation — but only if it’s intentional. The refs apparently felt Kavanaugh didn’t make enough of a move with his foot to call an infraction.

“I was all over the ball, trying to get a deflection,” Parker said. “I thought I’d get a five count.

“He threw the ball, and my instincts said to go after it. When I got it, I just took off.”

Chipping in: Ralph Hill had a wide-open bunny in the first half after a feed from Kevin Dillard, but the sophomore forward hit the front of the rim on a dunk attempt and couldn’t convert.

He didn’t shrink back, though. Hill had a slam a few possessions later and then hit a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to give UD a 32-31 lead — capping a comeback from an 11-point hole.

Miller rewarded the Westerville North grad by putting him with the first five for the second half.

Family in tow: Miller’s family — wife Morgan and 7-year-old daughter Leah — made the trip. They also took in road games at St. Joe’s and the Old Spice Classic near Disney World.

Archie was an assistant for a decade, making stops at North Carolina State (his alma mater), Western Kentucky, Arizona State, Ohio State and Arizona.

Asked how her year in Dayton has gone so far, Morgan Miller said: “It’s been amazing. It’s a great environment (at games). This is the best move we’ve ever made. Everyone is so warm and inviting.”

Foul trouble: Dillard, the Flyers’ leader in scoring, assists and minutes, picked up his fourth foul with 10:01 to go in the second half with UD trailing 49-45. He returned at 3:27 with the team facing a 60-57 deficit. Miller pulled him before some defensive possessions after that in an effort to keep him on the floor. He never did foul out.

• Paul Williams had a rare four-point play in the first half, making a 3-pointer, drawing a foul and connecting on the free throw.

• Fordham’s Rose Hill Gym, opened in 1925, is the oldest college basketball venue in use today. It’s one year older than Harvard’s Ray Lavietes Pavilion.

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

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