Nov. 29, 2008

Complete Game Notes in PDF Format

A pair of 5-0 teams clash as the University of Dayton Flyers faces the No. 15/15 Marquette Golden Eagles on Saturday in the championship game of the Chicago Invitational Challenge. The contest will be held at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill., with tipoff at 8 p.m. ET. The game will be carried by WHIO-TV and WHIO Radio and be available with live streaming audio at www.DaytonFlyers.com.

Dayton is 5-0 for the first time since the 2003-04 campaign and unbeaten in its first five contests for only the second time in the last nine seasons. After a 60-59 overtime victory on Friday against the Auburn Tigers, the Flyers play its first ranked opponent of the year. UD leads the Atlantic 10 in scoring defense allowing 48.2 points per game. On the offensive end the Flyers are led by the duo of Chris Wright with 14.0 points per game and Marcus Johnson with 12.4 points per game. Dayton has also out-rebounded its opponent in its last four contests and hold a plus 9.6 margin on the glass.

Marquette returned all five starters from a year ago and is unbeaten in five games this season out-scoring opponents by a 23.4 margin. Led by the guard trio of Dominic James, Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews, the Golden Eagles have one of the most battle-tested groups in the nation. In fact James and McNeal were tabbed preseason candidates for the John R. Wooden award. Senior Lazar Hayward is averaging near a double-double with 19.6 points and 9.6 rebounds.

SERIES STUFF Marquette leads the all-time series 21-13. The last game between the two programs was held on Jan. 4, 2003 when the Flyers pulled out a 92-85 victory in overtime. UD has won three of the last four meetings.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Dayton leads the Atlantic 10 in scoring defense allowing a paltry 48.2 points per game. The Flyers not only held Wofford to 49 points, but also forced 23 turnovers. They followed that up with 15 steals against Delaware State, two swipes shy of the program's single-game record. Dayton forced 21 turnovers and held Bethune-Cookman to 24 percent shooting from the floor. The Flyer defense smothered the Auburn attack by forcing 20 turnovers, recoring eight steals and four blocks. No team has shot better than 40 percent from the field this year against UD.

LOCK IT UP UD's defense is allowing 48.2 points per game through the first five contests. That's the fewest allowed in the first four games of the year since the 1949-50 squad allowed an average of 44.0. In fact, no team has scored more than 60 points against Dayton this season.

UP NEXT Dayton returns home to take on Troy University Tuesday at 7:30 pm ET.