DaytonDailyNews.com

DAYTON — A win over Miami would allow Dayton to match its best nonconference record since leaving the ranks of the independents two decades ago, but that's not something coach Brian Gregory will call on to motivate his players.

In his mind, facing a neighborhood nemesis ought to be motivation enough.

"All we're thinking about is we're playing a team that's going to have a successful season. It has a high RPI. It's going to win a lot of games. And it's a traditional rival," he said. "We don't need to look at anything else. This is a big game for us."

UD and Miami will meet for the 127th time tonight, Jan. 6, and if the last two games are any indication, fans should brace themselves for a thriller.

The Flyers trailed by 21 in the first half last season before rallying for a 63-62 win over the RedHawks — only their second win in 20 years at Millett Hall. The 15-point halftime deficit was the third-largest ever overcome by UD.

Two years ago, the Flyers wiped out a 14-point deficit in the first half to tie the game, then fell behind by 14 again before pulling out a 56-54 win.

"They had us dead," Gregory said.

Miami (7-4) is ranked 11th nationally in the RPI and has played the ninth-toughest schedule in the land. Their losses were to UCLA, Pitt, Xavier and West Virginia — all on the road.

Facing nonconference giants has become a Miami tradition under 13th-year coach Charlie Coles.

"They travel around and play those teams, so they're battle-tested," Gregory said. "To Charlie's credit, at the same time, he's always been able to keep those guys in a positive state of mind even if they're not successful."

The Flyers (13-1) could tie the 2007-08 team for the school's best nonconference mark since beginning its trek through three conferences in 1988-89. A 14-1 record also would be the third-best start in program history.

The only squads to do better were the 1955-56 team anchored by Bucky Bockhorn, Bill Uhl and Jim Paxson, which went 19-1, and the Don Meineke-led 1949-50 team that started 16-1.