The Dayton Flyers men's basketball team fell to the Duquesne Dukes, 93-94, in a double overtime thriller at UD Arena Wednesday night in the Atlantic 10 opener for both teams. Monty Scott led the Flyers with a career-high 25 points while freshman Brian Roberts added a season-high 17 points.

The Flyers dropped to 6-5 overall and 0-1 in the Atlantic 10. Duquesne improved to 4-10 and 1-0 while ending a 21-year winless drought against the Flyers at UD Arena. Duquesne hasn't beat Dayton in UD Arena since the 1982-83 season, a drought so long that only three of their eleven players; Tyler Bluemling, Martin Osimani and Jon Pawlak had been born the last time that happened. Duquesne's Bryant McAllister finished with a game-high 26 points.

The Dukes took an early 7-0 lead by forcing three Dayton turnovers and capitalizing. Dayton's first points came with a baseline three-pointer by freshman Brian Roberts to start an 8-1 UD run.

James Cripe converted a three-point play to put UD up 19-14 with 6:26 left, but Duquesne's McAllister quickly brought the game within two with a three-pointer. Two consecutive three-pointers by Monty Scott put the Flyers back in the lead 27-23.

With 3.5 seconds left in the first half, Warren Williams drove the lane for two while being fouled. Upon missing his free throw, Norman Plummer quickly grabbed the offensive board and put in a quick shot to give the Flyers a 33-23 lead going into halftime.

At the half Duquesne's Bryant McAllister led all scorers with 11 while Dayton's Monty Scott and Norman Plummer each had six points.

The Dukes hit two three pointers early to close the gap but an electric alley-oop from Warren Williams to Nick Stafford and penetration by Mark Jones kept Dayton up by ten, 41-31. The Flyers kept the lead hovering around ten until Monty Scott powered through the lane, getting two while being fouled. His free throw put Dayton ahead by its largest margin of the game, 49-36, at the 13:02 mark.

Duquesne then used a 15-4 run, capped off by an inside basket by Kieron Achara, to bring the Dukes within two, 53-51 with 8:47 remaining in the game. But the Flyers used a 15-8 stretch to spurt ahead, 68-59 with 3:30 left in the game.

Duquesne furiously fought back, pulling within four with 58 seconds remaining on a three-point basket in the corner by Tyler Bluemling.

After Monty Scott made the second of two free throws, the Dukes drove back down quickly and an inside basket by Duquesne's Achara put the Duke's within three, 73-70, with 16 seconds remaining. Bennett also went one-for-two at the line, and Duquesne's Martin Osimani got to the line and cut the lead to two with 11 seconds remaining.

Brian Roberts was quickly fouled on the inbound and then missed two free throws. The Dukes drove the ball back down and Achara dunked in the tying basket just before the end of regulation to make the score 74-74 going into overtime.

After trading baskets the score remained tied at 83 with a minute to play in overtime. Monty Scott was fouled while pulling down a defensive rebound and made both of his double bonus free throws to put the flyers up by two, but Duquesne's McAllister his a floating jumper to tie the game at 85 with 6.5 seconds left in the overtime.

Brian Roberts missed a long three as time expired to put the game into a second overtime.

Duquesne's Achara gave the Dukes the first lead in overtime, making two free throws, but Flyer Trent Meacham hit a three to put Dayton up 88-87 with four minutes remaining.

Each team put up points at the foul line with Monty Scott hitting two consecutive to put the Flyers up by one, 91-90, with just over two minutes remaining. Dayton took advantage of two Duquesne missed foul shots and Nick Stafford scored from inside to put the Flyers up by three with 1:30 left in the second overtime. Two free throws by McAllister brought Duquesne back within one, 93-92, with 1:28 remaining.

The score remained unchanged until the last moments of the game as Duquesne's Chauncey Duke drove the lane for two points to give the Dukes a 94-93 advantage with five seconds left to play.

The Flyers were held off by Duquesne on their last attempt for the game as time ran out and Duquesne took the victory 94-93.

The Flyers continue their three-game homestand Saturday night with a game against Cornell at 8:00 p.m.

Dayton Head Coach Brian Gregory

Final Stats |  Quotes

"I give them credit because they could have packed it in the way things were going in the first half. I give us credit too. A lot of teams in our situation would not have even showed up in overtime."

"Our kids played hard, but we didn't play smart enough overall."

"We didn't rebound or defend well enough in the second half and overtime to win tonight. Our young guys play hard there is no doubt about it. We must be able to understand to how to play the game and we are getting better at that."

"After a game like this everyone in our locker room was drained, everyone in the arena was drained. Tonight showed that Duquesne is a good team. The opening of the A-10 season breeds new life for everybody and Duquesne responded."

"Duquesne is a good team. They have a good point guard who can make shots. Their two is a good as anyone in the league and a solid post. They also have a good team to go around them."

Duquesne Head Coach Danny Nee "I'm really proud of our kids. It was a great team effort. I think they played with a lot of heart."

"I just kept saying (to Duquesne players in the locker room) you had good shots. It empowers them when you say that to kids."

"Dayton came back and they worked really hard."

"I think our kids each contributed."

"There are so many things we need to correct and fix."

On the final shot by Dayton "I think he tipped it. It's crazy in games like this."

"These kids (Dayton) have a lot of character."