Dayton Flyers at La Salle: What you need to know about tonight’s A-10 opener

UD seeks first win at Tom Gola Arena since 2011
Dayton’s Jalen Crutcher drives to the basket against La Salle’s Saul Phiri on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018, at Tom Gola Arena in Philadelphia. David Jablonski/Staff

Dayton’s Jalen Crutcher drives to the basket against La Salle’s Saul Phiri on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018, at Tom Gola Arena in Philadelphia. David Jablonski/Staff

Who: No. 20 Dayton (11-2) at La Salle (9-3)

When: 8:30 p.m. Thursday

Where: Tom Gola Arena in Philadelphia

TV/Radio: CBS Sports Network; 1290 and 95.7 WHIO

» NORTH FLORIDA GAME: 11 observationsGame photos

Probable Dayton starters

Obi Toppin, 6-9, R-So., F, 19.8

Jalen Crutcher, 6-1, Jr., G, 12.9

Trey Landers, 6-5, Sr., G, 10.2

Ryan Mikesell, 6-7, R-Sr., F, 10.0

Rodney Chatman, 6-1, R-Jr., G, 9.1

Probable La Salle starters

Isiah Deas, 6-6, Sr., G, 11.8

Ed Croswell, 6-8, So., F, 10.5

David Beatty, 6-2, Jr., G, 10.0

Saul Phiri, 6-4, Sr., G, 8.6

Scott Spencer, 6-6, R-Jr., G, 8.3

» FIRST 12 GAMES: Highlights from Dayton’s play in non-conference action

Last game: Dayton beat North Florida 77-59 on Monday. La Salle beat Bucknell 71-59 on Saturday.

Series history: Dayton leads 28-15. Dayton won 70-39 last season at UD Arena. It was the most lopsided game in the history of the series. La Salle has won the last four games against Dayton at Gola Arena.

Coaches: Anthony Grant is 46-31 in his third season at Dayton. Ashley Howard is 19-24 in his second season at La Salle.

About Dayton: Dayton has an 82 percent chance of winning this game, according to KenPom.com, which predicts an 75-65 score. … Ibi Watson leads the reserves with 11.3 points per game. … Dayton set a school record with 13 dunks against North Florida. The previous record of 12 was set on Dec. 4, 2018, against Detroit. … A victory would give Dayton its best start since it was 12-2 in the 2015-16 season.

» ATLANTIC 10: Breaking down conference’s performance in non-conference play

About La Salle: Phiri and Spencer both shoot better than 40 percent from 3-point range. Phiri has made 22 of 51 (43.1). Spencer has made 22 of 55 (40.0). … Spencer is a transfer from Clemson who played in 19 games with the Tigers as a sophomore in 2017-18. … Sophomore Jared Kimbrough scored a career-high 16 points off the bench in La Salle's last game. … La Salle is trying to break a streak of five straight losing seasons. Since making the Sweet 16 in 2013, it has not finished better than 17-16. … La Salle was picked to finish 10th in the A-10 preseason poll.

Around the A-10: This is one of four games on the opening night of Atlantic 10 Conference play. The best game of the night is Saint Louis (11-2) at Duquesne (10-2).

Looking ahead: Dayton will remain in Philadelphia after this game until Sunday when it plays Saint Joseph's at 1 p.m. at Hagan Arena. The A-10 home opener against Massachusetts follows on Saturday, Jan. 11.

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