Flyers suffer another blowout loss on the road

B.J. Johnson carries Explorers with 27 points

The Dayton Flyers suffered their third double-digit loss in a row on the road, falling 71-53 to La Salle at Tom Gola Arena on Wednesday.

The game looked much like the 85-67 loss at George Mason on Feb. 14 and the 81-56 loss at Rhode Island on Friday. Dayton never made a serious run in the second half to get back in the game after trailing 33-23 at halftime.

The loss almost assures Dayton (13-16, 7-10) will suffer its first losing season since 2006. The Flyers will have to win at home Saturday against George Washington and then make a deep run in the Atlantic 10 tournament next week just to have a chance to finish .500.

The Flyers committed 18 turnovers and shot 39.6 percent from the field. La Salle shot 54.9 percent and had 21 assists to Dayton’s seven.

B.J. Johnson led La Salle with 27 points. Trey Landers scored 17 points for Dayton.

La Salle (7-10, 13-17) is tied with Dayton and George Washington in the standings.

HALFTIME RECAP

The Dayton Flyers committed nine turnovers and missed their first 10 3-pointers and trailed La Salle 33-23 at halftime Wednesday at Tom Gola Arena.

Dayton's star: Josh Cunningham made 4 of 4 field goals and scored eight points. He picked up two fouls in the first eight minutes but returned to the game late in the half.

La Salle's star: B.J. Johnson, one of four La Salle seniors honored before the game, made 6 of 10 shots and scored 16 points.

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Key stat: After missing all 10 of its 3-pointers in the second half Friday in an 81-56 loss at Rhode Island, Dayton missed its first 10 in this game before Darrell Davis and Jalen Crutcher made 3-pointers in the final minute. La Salle made 5 of 14 3-pointers.

Big run: La Salle ran off nine straight points to turn a 16-11 lead into a 25-11 lead with under five minutes to play.

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Top play: Johnson dunked at the buzzer to give La Salle a 10-point lead at the half. That followed a 3-pointer by Crutcher.

Lineup news: La Salle's Pookie Powell (concussion) won't play in the game. He's the team's second-leading scorer (16.5).

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