No. 22 Dayton rallies to beat Richmond 63-60

Published Jan. 24, 2015 9:21 p.m. ET

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DAYTON, Ohio (AP) The Flyers had quite a first week in the Top 25. They got drubbed on the road and then had to rally to pull one out at home.

Dyshawn Pierre scored 21 points, and Dayton led a double-digit lead slip away before rallying in the closing minutes to beat Richmond 63-60 on Saturday night, remaining unbeaten at home.

The Flyers (16-3, 6-1 Atlantic 10) took a 10-point lead into the second half and fell into a bad habit. They started playing like the game was pretty much over.

''That's about the fifth game in a row where we came out of the locker room with a lead and we are lackadaisical on defense and the game changes,'' coach Archie Miller said. ''That's got to stop.''

The Spiders (10-9, 3-3) took advantage of the Flyers' defense and their poor shooting, taking the game down to the closing minutes. And once again, they saw it fall apart. Richmond's last three losses have come by three points or less.

''We feel like we're right there,'' said forward Alonzo Nelson-Ododa, who had 11 points and a game-high seven rebounds. ''We've got to come out and play better in the first half and that will translate over to the second half.''

Scoochie Smith's two free throws put Dayton up 63-60 with 13.6 seconds left, and ShawnDre' Jones' attempt at a tying 3-point shot was short as time ran out.

''We weren't able to make a couple of plays and things went against us,'' Richmond coach Chris Mooney said. ''Just a tough one.''

The Flyers moved into the Top 25 this week for the first time this season and got drubbed 77-60 at Davidson on Tuesday night, their most lopsided loss of the season. They needed a big finish to pull this one out.

Forward Kendall Pollard scored 18 points and put the Flyers ahead to stay 57-55 with a shot in the lane.

T.J. Cline led the Spiders with 14 points. Richmond was coming off an 89-63 win over Davidson last Saturday, piling up season highs in points and 3-pointers (14) in the Spiders' most lopsided win of the season.

They came up just short in their attempt to knock off a Top 25 team on the road for the first time in 11 years.

Pierre made shots from all over the floor while piling up 16 points in the first half. Dayton missed nine of its first 12 shots in the second half, helping the Spiders catch up.

Cline scored 10 consecutive points - including a pair of 3-pointers - that gave the Spiders their first lead, 47-46, midway through the half. There were six lead changes before Dayton went ahead to stay.

STOPPING SIBERT: Jordan Sibert, the Flyers' leading scorer at 16.1 points per game, picked up his fourth foul with 8:54 to go and finished with eight points.

HOLDING DOWN ANTHONY: Kendall Anthony, the Spiders' leading scorer at 16.3 points per game, managed only four points in the half. Anthony picked up his third foul in the opening minute of the second half and went to the bench. Anthony finished with nine points.

TIP-INS

Richmond: The Spiders are 0-7 on the road this season and have lost their last 10 road games since a win last Feb. 12 at Duquesne.

Dayton: The Flyers have won their last 16 at home, including all 11 this season.

UP NEXT

Richmond plays Duquesne on Wednesday, hosting a team it beat twice last season.

Dayton plays at Massachusetts on Thursday. The Flyers won their one game last season 86-79.

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