Grambling State @ Dayton preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 9, 2006 ) Grambling State 49, Dayton 58

A quick turnaround doesn't leave No. 12 Dayton much time to dwell on an overtime loss to Colorado as they return home to face Grambling State on Monday night. Dayton was beaten for only the second time this season Saturday evening, falling 78-76 on a buzzer-beater in Chicago.

Both the Flyers' losses have come in overtime, including the disappointing finish at the United Center after Colorado rallied from a halftime deficit. The outcome ended a four-game Dayton winning streak that started after a 90-84 loss to No. 1 Kansas last month at the Maui Invitational in Hawaii. The Flyers outshot the formidable Buffaloes, which is not surprising considering Dayton led the nation in field goal accuracy entering Sunday at 53.3 percent and was 21st in 3-point shooting at 39.4 percent. Unlike Dayton, Grambling has had time to prepare for this game, last playing in a 93-72 loss at Marquette on Tuesday.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Spectrum News 1

ABOUT GRAMBLING (6-6): The Tigers average 80.2 points per game and shoot 48 percent from the field as a team. DeVante Jackson is the only player who has started all 12 games and leads the team in scoring at 14.5 points and in rebounding (5.4). Kelton Edwards scored 22 points in the loss to Marquette to boost his season average into double digits at 10 per game; Ivy Smith Jr. has team highs of 62 assists, 36 steals and 41 turnovers; and Travon Bunch, a 7-foot-1 senior center, has blocked 25 shots.

ABOUT DAYTON (9-2): Obi Toppin leads five players averaging in double figures at 19.8 points per game while shooting 61.9 percent from the field, and also averages a team-best eight rebounds. Toppin is followed by Jalen Crutcher (13.1 points), who scored 19 against Colorado; Ryan Mikesell (10.5); Trey Landers (10) and Ibi Watson (10). Chase Johnson, a 6-9 forward who averages 5.1 points, has missed the last three games with an illness.

TIP-INS

1. Dayton ranked sixth nationally in scoring at 84 points per game.

2. Dayton's ranking is its highest since December 1967, but the Flyers are expected to fall several notches when the next poll is released Monday.

3. Grambling is 2-6 on the road this season - 0-6 outside the state of Louisiana - with wins at Southeastern Louisiana and at Louisiana-Monroe.

PREDICTION: Dayton 84, Grambling 68