Cooper: A lot at stake this weekend Dayton, Wright State and Miami

Dayton and Saint Louis stand for the national anthem on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Mo. David Jablonski/Staff

Credit: David Jablonski

Credit: David Jablonski

Dayton and Saint Louis stand for the national anthem on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Mo. David Jablonski/Staff

Good morning, and welcome to another Friday edition of the Dayton Daily News Sports Update!

There’s a lot at stake this weekend for the Miami Valley’s men’s college basketball teams.

After three straight losses, the Dayton Flyers are looking to find themselves against No. 21 Saint Louis, one of the hottest teams in the nation.

The Wright State Raiders face a key road swing in Wisconsin with games against Milwaukee on Friday and Green Bay on Sunday.

The 24th-ranked Miami RedHawks — the hottest team in the nation — will have Millett Hall rocking on Saturday when they host Northern Illinois and honor former Miami great Ron Harper.

The results could have significant implications for all three programs heading into February.

Here’s what you need to know heading into this weekend:

Flyers face crucial game at Saint Louis

Dayton's Jacob Conner dunks in the first half against Rhode Island on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, at UD Arena. David Jablonski/Staff

Credit: David Jablonski

icon to expand image

Credit: David Jablonski

The 20-1 Billikens, winners of 14 straight, sit alone in first place in the Atlantic 10, one game ahead of George Mason. David Jablonski will have full coverage of tonight’s game, which tips off at 8 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.


📺 3 to watch

College basketball and women’s tennis take center stage this weekend:

  • Men’s college basketball: Wright State at Milwaukee (8 p.m., Friday, ESPN+): The first-place Raiders begin their second round of Horizon League play in Wisconsin.
  • Men’s college basketball: Northern Illinois at Miami (3:30 p.m., Saturday, ESPN+): The 24th-ranked RedHawks are seeking their 22nd straight victory.
  • Women’s Tennis: Australian Open Final (3:30 a.m./9 a.m. (taped), Saturday, ESPN): World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka takes on fifth-seeded Elena Rybakina in a rematch of the 2023 title match.

🏀 3 to see (in person)

Here are a few high school basketball games to check out this weekend across the Miami Valley:

  • Boys basketball: Badin at Alter (7:15 p.m., Friday): The Knights host the Rams in a key Greater Catholic League Co-Ed Division matchup.
  • Boys basketball: Springfield at Wayne (7:15 p.m., Friday): After falling to Centerville in a key Greater Western Ohio Conference game on Wednesday, the Warriors will look to bounce back against one of their biggest rivals.
  • Girls basketball: Cin. McNicholas at Carroll (Noon, Saturday): With a victory, the Patriots (14-3) can clinch their second straight outright GCL Co-Ed Division title.

WATCH: Centerville High School’s stunning new state-of-the-art floor projection

Centerville High School has added a new experience for fans as part of its pregame festivities at campus games. A state-of-the-art floor projection video is now shown on the court prior to the start of school’s games. With the lights turned off in the gym, the video highlights different parts of the floor with graphics and images of Elks’ players. STEPHEN WRIGHT/STAFF

icon to expand image

Steven Wright captured video of a new fan experience Centerville has added as part of its pregame festivities.


ICYMI: Two sneaky fans, one blown-up bus and some good basketball

In a game played without a crowd because of the severe weather outside, referee Kelsey Reynolds throws up the ball for the opening tip between Rhode Island's 6-foot-5 Abina Syla and Dayton's 6-2 center Molly O'Riordan on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2026 at UD Arena. TOM ARCHDEACON / CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

icon to expand image

It was a scene reminiscent of the COVID season when UD Arena was so empty for games, you could hear the coaches’ conversations on the sidelines and even the sneakers squeaking out on the floor, wrote Tom Archdeacon.


WHERE TO FIND OUR COVERAGE

For the latest, most up-to-date high school sports news and scores from the Dayton Daily News, visit daytondailynews.com/sports.

Want the latest news on your smartphone? Download the new and improved Dayton Daily News app from your app store.

During football season, readers can also get our coverage sent right to their inboxes each Saturday morning by subscribing to our High School Football newsletter.

We’ll also be posting prep sports content on the Dayton Daily News Sports Facebook page throughout the winter season.

I want to hear from you. Reach out to me directly at michael.cooper@coxinc.com with your questions and feedback.

Here’s what you need to know heading into this weekend:

Flyers face crucial game at Saint Louis

Dayton's Jacob Conner dunks in the first half against Rhode Island on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, at UD Arena. David Jablonski/Staff

Credit: David Jablonski

icon to expand image

Credit: David Jablonski

After dropping their last three games, the Flyers will face the 21st-ranked Billikens, who have won 14 straight. David Jablonski will have full coverage of tonight’s game, which tips off at 8 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.


📺 3 to watch

College basketball and women’s tennis take center stage this weekend:

  • Men’s college basketball: Wright State at Milwaukee (8 p.m., Friday, ESPN+): The first-place Raiders begin their second round of Horizon League play in Wisconsin.
  • Men’s college basketball: Northern Illinois at Miami (3:30 p.m., Saturday, ESPN+): The 24th-ranked RedHawks are seeking their 22nd straight victory.
  • Women’s Tennis: Australian Open Final (3:30 a.m. live/9 a.m. taped, Saturday, ESPN): World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka takes on fifth-seeded Elena Rybakina in a rematch of the 2023 title match.

🏀 3 to see (in person)

Here are a few high school basketball games to check out this weekend across the Miami Valley:

  • Boys basketball: Badin at Alter (7:15 p.m., Friday): The Knights host the Rams in a key Greater Catholic League Co-Ed Division matchup.
  • Boys basketball: Springfield at Wayne (7:15 p.m., Friday): After falling to Centerville in a key Greater Western Ohio Conference game on Wednesday, the Warriors will look to bounce back against one of their biggest rivals.
  • Girls basketball: McNicholas at Carroll (Noon, Saturday): With a victory, the Patriots (14-3) can clinch their second straight outright GCL Co-Ed Division title.

WATCH: Centerville High School’s stunning new state-of-the-art floor projection

Centerville High School has added a new experience for fans as part of its pregame festivities at campus games. A state-of-the-art floor projection video is now shown on the court prior to the start of school’s games. With the lights turned off in the gym, the video highlights different parts of the floor with graphics and images of Elks’ players. STEPHEN WRIGHT/STAFF

icon to expand image

Steven Wright captured video of a new fan experience Centerville has added as part of its pregame festivities.


ICYMI: Two sneaky fans, one blown-up bus and some good basketball

In a game played without a crowd because of the severe weather outside, referee Kelsey Reynolds throws up the ball for the opening tip between Rhode Island's 6-foot-5 Abina Syla and Dayton's 6-2 center Molly O'Riordan on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2026 at UD Arena. TOM ARCHDEACON / CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

icon to expand image

It was a scene reminiscent of the COVID season when UD Arena was so empty for games, you could hear the coaches’ conversations on the sidelines and even the sneakers squeaking out on the floor, wrote Tom Archdeacon.


WHERE TO FIND OUR COVERAGE

For the latest, most up-to-date high school sports news and scores from the Dayton Daily News, visit daytondailynews.com/sports.

Want the latest news on your smartphone? Download the new and improved Dayton Daily News app from your app store.

During football season, readers can also get our coverage sent right to their inboxes each Saturday morning by subscribing to our High School Football newsletter.

We’ll also be posting prep sports content on the Dayton Daily News Sports Facebook page throughout the winter season.

I want to hear from you. Reach out to me directly at michael.cooper@coxinc.com with your questions and feedback.

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