Dayton’s prospects for advancing to the Atlantic 10 tournament may look dim, but freshman forward Dyshawn Pierre believes the Flyers have what it takes to make that 12-team field.

“We just have to stick with it, and we’ll be fine,” he said. “We’ll make a little run and find a way to get to the tournament.”

The Flyers are 14-12 overall and in 13th place in the A-10 at 4-8 with four games to go. St. Bonaventure currently is in 12th at 6-7, while Saint Joseph’s, Charlotte, Richmond and George Washington are 6-6.

The Flyers have already beaten St. Joe’s and will face the other four over the next 11 days.

“After losses, obviously, it’s hard. But we really try to pick ourselves up,” Pierre said. “The coaching staff and players have the concept of being all in, being all together. Losses are hard, but we’re there for each other all the time.”

The Flyers will need a united front when they play at Charlotte on Wednesday night. The 49ers have been one of the surprise teams in the league at 18-8 overall, but they’ve stumbled lately in league play with four losses in their last five games, including a 20-point pounding at home by Temple on Sunday.

Third-year coach Alan Major suspended leading scorer DeMario Mayfield for the year for violating athletic department policy. The junior guard missed the last six games.

Another key player, sub forward J.T. Thompson, has been out since Feb. 6 with a torn ACL.

But Major, a former Ohio State assistant, has the program on an upward trajectory after going 10-20 and 13-17 his first two years.

He starts all freshmen and sophomores. Senior forward Chris Braswell, a preseason second-team all-conference pick, comes off the bench, although he’s playing the third-most minutes.

“Coach Major has done a fabulous job recruiting,” Miller said. “Braswell and the two young freshmen (forwards Darion Clark and Willie Clayton), they’re physical. And they’re built completely around those guys and how they pound the ball inside. Their free-throw rate is kind of off the charts.”

The 49ers have taken a league-high 617 foul shots (nearly 24 per game), although they’re making only 64.5 percent, the worst mark in the A-10.

“I don’t think we’re just going to be able to sit behind them (on defense),” Miller said. “Eliminating touches is one thing. Crowding the floor is another thing. But they’re going to get it in there. And when they get it in there, how discipline will we be not to foul? That’s going to be important.

“We’re going to have to play as physical as we’ve ever played to have a chance.”