Where: UD Arena
TV/Radio: Spectrum Sports; AM 1290, News 95.7 WHIO
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Probable Dayton starters
Darrell Davis, 6-5, Sr., G, 5.5 points per game
John Crosby, 6-3, Jr., G, 2.8
Josh Cunningham, 6-7, R-Jr., F, 6.3
Xeyrius Williams, 6-8, Jr., F, 8.2
Trey Landers, 6-4, So., G, 3.0
Probable Ball State starters
Tayler Persons, 6-3, R-Jr., G, 15.5
Francis Kiapway, 6-3, Sr., G, 8.1
Sean Sellers, 6-6, Sr., F, 8.6
Kyle Mallers, 6-7, So., F, 2.2
Tahjai Teague, 6-8, R-So., F, 7.3
* Points per game are averages from last season
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Series history: Dayton leads the series 5-1. The Flyers won the last game 59-35 on Jan. 5, 2010 at UD Arena. This is the third meeting since 1958.
Coaches: This is the first game as Dayton coach for Anthony Grant. His career record in three seasons at Virginia Commonwealth and six at Alabama is 119-110. Ball State's James Whitford enters his fifth season with a record of 54-75.
About Dayton: The Flyers have won 12 straight season openers and 15 of their last 16. Dayton is 44-4 in home openers at UD Arena. It won 23 straight home openers from 1969-91. … Davis has started 18 games in his career. Williams has started eight games. Cunningham has two starts with the Flyers. This will be the first start for Landers and Crosby. … Dayton's director of player development, Devin Davis, was a player at Miami University when Whitford was an assistant coach.
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About Ball State: The Cardinals received one vote in the Associated Press top 25 preseason poll, as did the Flyers. … Ball State finished 21-13 last season. It beat an Atlantic 10 team in its opener a year ago, routing Saint Louis 85-64 on the road. … Ball State has recorded back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 1991-92 and 1992-93. … Ball State assistant coach Jason Grunkemeyer played for Miami University's Sweet 16 team in 1999. Whitford was an assistant coach during his three seasons with the RedHawks. … Kiapway ranks fourth in school history with 184 3-pointers. … Persons played his freshman season at Northern Kentucky before transferring. … Freshman guard Ishmael El-Amin is the son of Khalid El-Amin, a point guard who led Connecticut to the national title in 1999.
Next games: Dayton opens play in the Charleston Classic at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16 against Hofstra. Ball State plays at Oklahoma at 8 p.m. Nov. 15.
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