Cline scored 21 points, but didn't make a field goal in the last six minutes. The Flyers pulled away with a 13-2 run. Dayton's team approach to slowing Cline, who was often surrounded by two or three defenders in the post, helped carry it a key conference victory.
One third of the way into the A-10 schedule, the Flyers (14-4) share first place with Richmond (11-7) and La Salle (11-5). Each team is 5-1 in the A-10. The Flyers own the advantage of having beat the Spiders and Explorers at UD Arena and not having to play them a second time on the road.
RELATED: 14 photos from Dayton’s 14th win
There are many good signs for Dayton. Charles Cooke has returned to all-league form after missing three games. He had 17 points in 37 minutes against Richmond.
Scoochie Smith continues to perform like one of the best point guards in the country. He had 15 points, four assists and no turnovers in 35 minutes.
Darrell Davis has turned himself into a strong defender for the league's best defense. He also scored 11 points and played a career-high 38 minutes, five more than he had ever played. Most of the starters saw more minutes because senior guard Kyle Davis remains sidelined by a sprained ankle and bruised foot.
Perhaps the most surprising thing about Thursday’s game — though Miller wasn’t surprised — is Dayton took control of the game with a 13-2 run in the last six minutes right after Kendall Pollard went to the bench with his fourth foul. Pollard didn’t return to the game because Dayton didn’t need him.
Pollard had eight points and six rebounds in 20 minutes. The players who picked up his minutes — Ryan Mikesell and Xeyrius Williams — each excelled. Mikesell made 4 of 5 shots from the field and scored 11 points. He had two steals during the key run. Williams scored 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting. He grabbed 11 rebounds.
“We pretty much figured out as the game goes on it wasn’t Kendall’s night,” Miller said. “A couple offensive fouls took him out of it. I thought Xeyrius did an excellent job in the minutes he played, blocking shots, getting rebounds and then he had a couple of key stick-backs and breakaways. He made some free throws. I thought Ryan Mikesell was terrific as well. I think you’ve seen those guys grow up a little bit.”
Meanwhile, Sam Miller continues to play a diminished role. He saw two minutes of action. He played at least 13 minutes and as many as 30 minutes in the first 10 games, except one game he missed with an illness, and has played double-figure minutes only twice in the last nine games.
“I told Sam up in the locker room, ‘Two minutes tonight. It doesn’t feel good,’” Archie Miller said. “But I tell you this right now, if he just keeps doing what he’s doing every day in practice, he’ll be the next guy to get in there and get going. It’s inevitable in this season and how things have gone that we’ll need everybody. Guys are out. We’ve had guys out all season long. It’s next man up. Next week who knows who else will be gone.”
SUNDAY’S GAME
Saint Louis at Dayton, 2 p.m., CBS Sports Network, FM 95.7, AM 1290 WHIO
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