Dayton Flyers

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NEWARK, N.J. - Matt Kavanaugh scored a career-high 15 points and added seven rebounds as the University of Dayton Flyers pulled off another double-digit comeback this season, beating the Seton Hall Pirates 69-65.

Kavanaugh scored nine of his 15 in the second half where Dayton out-scored the Pirates by 18 points.

Trailing by 14 at the half, the Flyers opened the second period with a 22-6 run. After two Pirate free-throws knotted the game up at 48 apiece, the two would jostle for the lead before a Chris Wright jumper put Dayton up 56-55 with 8:09 remaining in the game. 

The Flyers would then hold Seton Hall scoreless for over four minutes and take a four-point lead with 4:30 left. Another 6-2 burst highlighted by a Chris Johnson lay-up made the score 65-57. 

After a couple Seton Hall baskets, including a Jordan Theodore three-pointer, the lead was cut to three with eight seconds remaining.  A Paul Williams free-throw followed by a block by Williams helped Dayton seal the victory.

Chris Wright added 13 points and nine rebounds and Chris Johnson had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

This is Dayton’s fifth victory out of its last six games and the third straight. It is also the second double-digit road comeback victory by the Flyers this season.

Kavanaugh’s performance off the bench certainly took many by surprise. Prior to the Seton Hall game he had scored 11 points total on the season and his previous career-high in scoring was two.

The win makes Dayton 10-3 for the season, the fifth time in school history the Flyers have 10 wins before Christmas. The loss snaps Seton Hall’s three-game win streak and drops them to 6-5 on the year. 

UD resumes action on Wednesday, Dec. 29 when they face George Mason at UD Arena.  Game time is 7 p.m. ET.