Dayton @ VCU preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 14, 2020 ) VCU 65, Dayton 79

Fifth-ranked Dayton won despite some sloppy ball handling last time out and seeks a sharper performance as the Flyers go after a 15th straight victory Tuesday night when they visit VCU for an Atlantic 10 matchup. Dayton turned the ball over 17 times, but shot 52.9 percent from the field to outlast Massachusetts 71-63 on Saturday to remain unbeaten in league play.

“Today, we’re happy to get the win,” Flyers coach Anthony Grant told reporters of his team, which has not lost since a two-point overtime decision against Colorado on Dec. 21. “I think all of those guys in the locker room would tell you that we need to be better.” Junior guard Jalen Crutcher, who scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half Saturday, told the media that Dayton can win a national championship and the Flyers continue that quest against a VCU team they beat 79-65 at home on Jan. 14 as 6-9 sophomore forward Obi Toppin had 24 points and nine rebounds. The Rams won four in a row following the loss at Dayton, but have dropped three of four since after getting beaten badly from behind the 3-point line (11 makes to four) in a 77-59 setback at Richmond on Saturday. Coach Mike Rhoades told reporters the Rams just didn’t get enough stops and VCU was also hampered by the absence of senior guard Marcus Evans (knee), who is listed as questionable for Tuesday’s contest.

TIME: 8:30 p.m. ET. TV: CBS Sports Network

ABOUT DAYTON (23-2, 12-0 Atlantic 10): Toppin has been a steady force for the Flyers, averaging team highs of 19.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and field-goal percentage (63.0) - best in the Atlantic 10 among qualifiers. Crutcher is fifth in the league in assists (5.1) and third in 3-point shooting (42.4 percent) after averaging 18.3 points in the past three games to boost his season mark to 14.8. Senior guard Trey Landers does a little of everything for the Flyers, averaging 10.8 points on 57.9 percent shooting with 6.2 rebounds per game while junior guard Ibi Watson, a Michigan transfer, scores 10.6 per outing.

ABOUT VCU (17-8, 7-5): Junior forward Marcus Santos-Silva leads the team in scoring (12.7) and rebounds (8.8, fifth in the A-10) after recording his sixth double-double of the season at Richmond with 14 points and 12 boards. Senior guard De’Riante Jenkins (11.0) is only other Ram averaging in double figures scoring, if Evans cannot go Tuesday, after contributing 13.3 points and 2.7 steals per game over the past three. Evans, who averaged 21.4 points as a freshman with Rice in 2015-16, as 0-for-7 from the field in a loss to George Mason last week before going down with the injury and is contributing 10.3 points per game this season.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Dayton’s 6-11 junior C Jordy Tshimanga from Montreal is 10-for-14 from the field over the last seven games.

2. VCU senior F Issac Vann is averaging 11 points over his last six contests to boost his season mark to 7.5.

3. The Flyers entered the week leading the nation in field-goal percentage (52.3) and VCU was 210th (43.2).

PREDICTION: Dayton 76, VCU 68