North Florida @ Dayton preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 7, 2018 ) North Florida 70, Dayton 78

Dayton closes out its non-conference schedule when it returns from a one-week holiday break to host North Florida on Monday night at sold-out UD Arena. The No. 18 Flyers bounced back from their second loss of the season with a victory over Grambling State on Dec. 23 in their last game before Christmas.

Ibi Watson erupted for a career-high 30 points, making 8-of-12 shots from the field and all 10 free throws, in Dayton's 81-53 victory over Grambling. Watson started that game in place of Jalen Crutcher, who did not see action after taking a hard fall two days earlier in a 78-76 overtime loss to Colorado in Chicago. Dayton is unbeaten at home this season, but North Florida is accustomed to playing in tough environments, having endured a November-December schedule loaded with teams from major conferences including Florida, Florida State, Iowa and Syracuse. Most of those games were played away from home, where the Ospreys have gone 1-6 in true road games.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Ohio

ABOUT NORTH FLORIDA (7-7): The Ospreys have lost two consecutive games (to Florida State and Syracuse) and three of their last four. Four players who started against Dayton last season return this year, including leading scorer and rebounder Carter Hendricksen (16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds per game) and Ivan Gandia-Rosa (14.6 points). North Florida's strengths are free throw shooting (78.9, 12th nationally) and 3-point shooting (37.8 percent).

ABOUT DAYTON (10-2): No NCAA Division I team shoots better than the Flyers, who lead the country in field goal percentage at 53.4, more than one percent better that the next-closest team, McNeese State. A big reason for Dayton's accuracy is Obi Toppin, who not only is shooting 61.8 percent from the floor but leads the team in scoring at 18.8 points and rebounding at 7.9. Watson boosted his scoring average to 11.7 points with the big effort against Grambling while Ryan Mikesell is the fourth player averaging in double figures at 10.1 per game and is second on the team in assists with 50 - nine behind Crutcher.

TIP-INS

1. Crutcher went into concussion protocol after hitting his head on the floor and had a streak of 75 consecutive appearances end when he sat out the Grambling game. The team's second leading scorer and assists leader was hoping to be cleared for Monday's game.

1. Chase Johnson, a 6-9 forward who averages 5.1 points for Dayton, has missed the past four games with an illness.

3. North Florida traveled to Dayton last year and lost 77-70 on Nov. 7, 2018.

PREDICTION: Dayton 80, North Florida 67