Drake @ Dayton preview

No. 12 Dayton goes for a third straight win when it hosts non-conference foe Drake on Saturday night. The Flyers got past Saint Mary's in the Jerry Colangelo Classic in Phoenix on Sunday for their latest win, while the Bulldogs come in on a four-game winning streak, including a 78-73 decision over Southeast Missouri State last Saturday.

Drake is as balanced offensively as you can get, with four starters averaging between 10.0 and 10.9 points this season. Senior guard Anthony Murphy leads the Bulldogs at 10.9 points per game, while 5-11 sophomore guard Roman Penn is second in scoring at 10.5 points, first with 5.3 assists per game, and shooting 46.7 percent from 3-point range. Dayton is led by one of the top players in the country in 6-9 sophomore forward Obi Toppin, who leads the Flyers with 21.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Jalen Crutcher is coming off a 21-point performance in the win over Saint Mary's and is averaging 13 points and 6.3 assists.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, No TV.

ABOUT DRAKE (8-2): The Bulldogs are 8-2, but coach Darian DeVries isn't happy with his team's shooting after they barely escaped with a win against a 5-3 Southeast Missouri State team that has been ranked in the 300s nationally by KenPom. Fortunately, Drake has been able to continue its defensive effort when the shots aren't falling, ranking first in the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring defense, allowing just 60.7 points per game. Part of that is because of the play of 7-0 sophomore forward Liam Robbins, who is averaging a conference-best 2.4 blocks per game, though Robbins will have his hands full going against Toppin in the paint.

ABOUT DAYTON (7-1): If there's one thing Dayton coach Anthony Grant would like to see his team do better, it's take care of the basketball, as the Flyers have had double-figure turnovers in every game this season. Dayton had 16 in the win over Saint Mary's, leading to 11 points for the Gaels, and the Flyers' average of 12.5 miscues per game ranks eighth in the Atlantic 10. Interestingly enough, though, Dayon is forcing only 11.2 turnovers per game, though it has outscored every opponent in points off turnovers this season.

TIP-INS

1. Drake sophomore G D.J. Wilkins has started to heat up of late, averaging 13.3 points over the Bulldogs' last three games.

2. Dayton ranks second in the country, scoring 87.4 points per game, while leading the nation in assists per game (20.3) and field-goal percentage (.546).

3. Flyers G Trey Landers is averaging 15.5 points and 8 rebounds over the last two games.

PREDICTION: Dayton 84, Drake 70