No. 16 Dayton wins 13th straight game, 66-54 over La Salle
AP
Jan 23, 2024
PHILADELPHIA (AP) DaRon Holmes II is having the type of season that has the Dayton Flyers forward on the radar for national achievements. The All-America team, for sure. At this rate, the NBA draft has to be on the horizon for the star junior.
His stock is trending up - and so are the Flyers.
Holmes scored 22 points and Javon Bennett and Nate Santos each scored 13 to lead No. 16 Dayton to its 13th straight win, 66-54 over La Salle Explorers on Tuesday night.
The Flyers (16-2, 6-0 Atlantic 10) made the biggest upward move this week in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll, gaining six places after wins over Saint Louis and Rhode Island.
Holmes added eight rebounds and four assists just a day after he won or shared the A-10 conference player of the week award for the third time this month.
“I think he's done what we expect him to do,” Dayton coach Anthony Grant said. “He's put the work in. He's doing what we all know he's capable of doing.”
Andres Marrero led La Salle (10-9, 1-5) with 13 points. The Explorers have lost four straight games.
The Flyers escaped another upset at Tom Gola Arena, this time against a La Salle team coached by Fran Dunphy.
The 75-year-old Dunphy reached 600 career wins this season and made a habit of leading former teams Temple and Penn to big-time wins over Top 25 teams. He even coached quite a few ranked teams at Temple.
He nearly got his signature win at La Salle.
Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi and Marrero buried consecutive 3s and Anwar Gill, who missed the last four games with an ankle injury, converted the and-1 that made it 45-40. Jhamir Brickus hit La Salle’s sixth 3 that made it 48-45 and put Dayton on the ropes. Marrero’s second 3 of the half continued to keep the Explorers in the game, pulling them within 55-48.
“I thought we did some good things, actually a lot of good things,” Dunphy said. “But we fell down a couple of times. Against this team, you can't.”
The Flyers haven’t lost since mid-November, with Holmes largely leading the way. Dayton won its first five A-10 games by an average of 13.2 points, and just missed the mark in this one.
Kobe Elvis buried a 3 and followed with another bucket for a 32-19 lead in the first half that started to bust the game open. Holmes - at No. 38, the highest-ranked high school recruit to ever sign with Dayton - threw down a thunderous jam in the second for a 15-point lead, the largest of the game.
Holmes made 9 of 16 shots and had two blocked shots. He's already Dayton's career leader in blocks.
“He understands his process,” Grant said. “He came to us because he saw an opportunity to play early, to play a system that fit his style of play. To play with a group of guys that he felt a connection to, and a relationship with.”
BIG PICTURE
Dayton: The Flyers survived a traditional tough game for them. They lost a shot at a share of the A-10 title in 2015 with a loss to a .500 La Salle team at Gola. In 2022, a 20-win Dayton team failed to strengthen its credentials for an at-large bid with a loss to a seven-win La Salle team, also in Philly.
La Salle: It’s been 70 years since La Salle won its lone national championship. Tom Gola, a three-time All-America, led the program to consecutive trips to the NCAA championship game in 1954 and 1955. The Explorers won the 1954 national championship and then, almost nothing after ’55. They won a single tournament game in 1983 and 1990 and haven't returned for March Madness since a Sweet 16 run in 2013.
Dunphy was coaxed out of retirement last season to lead the program where he served as co-captain and helped the Explorers to a 23-1 record in 1969 under Gola.
UP NEXT
Dayton plays Saturday at Richmond. Richmond entered Tuesday night at 5-0 in the A-10.
La Salle plays Saturday at George Washington.
--
Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here.
---
AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
1st Half
DAYT
Flyers
36
LAS
Explorers
23
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
DaRon Holmes II vs. Ryan Zan (Flyers gains possession)
19:34
DaRon Holmes II misses two point jump shot
19:32
Ryan Zan defensive rebound
19:20
Khalil Brantley misses two point jump shot
19:18
Nate Santos defensive rebound
19:03
+2
DaRon Holmes II makes two point layup (Kobe Elvis assists)
2-0
18:29
Explorers turnover (shot clock violation)
18:10
Nate Santos misses three point jump shot
18:08
Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi defensive rebound
17:55
+2
Ryan Zan makes two point jump shot (Khalil Brantley assists)
2-2
17:39
Javon Bennett misses three point jump shot
17:37
Jhamir Brickus defensive rebound
17:27
Daeshon Shepherd misses three point jump shot
17:25
Javon Bennett defensive rebound
17:16
Nate Santos misses three point jump shot
17:14
Enoch Cheeks offensive rebound
17:10
Enoch Cheeks misses two point layup
17:08
Ryan Zan defensive rebound
17:08
Ryan Zan turnover (Enoch Cheeks steals)
17:05
Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi personal foul (DaRon Holmes II draws the foul)
17:05
+1
DaRon Holmes II makes regular free throw 1 of 2
3-2
17:05
+1
DaRon Holmes II makes regular free throw 2 of 2
4-2
16:59
Ryan Zan turnover (DaRon Holmes II steals)
16:29
+2
Nate Santos makes two point layup (Enoch Cheeks assists)
6-2
16:00
+3
Khalil Brantley makes three point jump shot (Jhamir Brickus assists)
6-5
15:37
Kobe Elvis misses two point layup
15:35
Jhamir Brickus defensive rebound
15:23
+2
Jhamir Brickus makes two point jump shot
6-7
15:10
+3
DaRon Holmes II makes three point jump shot (Javon Bennett assists)
9-7
14:48
Daeshon Shepherd misses three point jump shot
14:23
Kobe Elvis defensive rebound
14:23
Javon Bennett misses three point jump shot
14:21
Ryan Zan defensive rebound
14:07
Khalil Brantley misses two point jump shot
14:05
DaRon Holmes II defensive rebound
14:03
Ryan Zan personal foul
14:03
TV timeout
13:58
+2
Koby Brea makes two point layup (Kobe Elvis assists)
11-7
13:33
Daeshon Shepherd misses three point jump shot
13:31
Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi offensive rebound
13:22
Jhamir Brickus turnover (bad pass)
12:58
Kobe Elvis turnover (Ryan Zan steals)
12:39
Khalil Brantley misses three point jump shot
12:37
Ryan Zan offensive rebound
12:30
Ryan Zan misses two point jump shot
12:28
Nate Santos defensive rebound
12:16
Daeshon Shepherd shooting foul (Kobe Elvis draws the foul)
12:16
Kobe Elvis misses regular free throw 1 of 2
12:16
+1
Kobe Elvis makes regular free throw 2 of 2
12-7
12:00
+3
Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi makes three point jump shot (Khalil Brantley assists)
12-10
11:40
Isaac Jack offensive foul
11:40
Isaac Jack turnover (offensive foul)
11:40
TV timeout
11:19
Anwar Gill turnover (Koby Brea steals)
11:02
Anwar Gill blocks Enoch Cheeks's two point jump shot
11:00
Flyers offensive rebound
10:51
+2
Koby Brea makes two point jump shot
14-10
10:41
Jhamir Brickus misses three point jump shot
10:39
Anwar Gill offensive rebound
10:24
Khalil Brantley misses three point jump shot
10:22
Javon Bennett defensive rebound
10:16
Isaac Jack misses two point hook shot
10:14
Khalil Brantley defensive rebound
9:58
Anwar Gill offensive foul
9:58
Anwar Gill turnover (offensive foul)
9:35
+2
Zimi Nwokeji makes two point layup (Kobe Elvis assists)
16-10
9:21
Koby Brea shooting foul (Khalil Brantley draws the foul)
9:21
+1
Khalil Brantley makes regular free throw 1 of 2
16-11
9:21
+1
Khalil Brantley makes regular free throw 2 of 2
16-12
9:03
+2
DaRon Holmes II makes two point layup
18-12
8:52
+3
Andres Marrero makes three point jump shot (Khalil Brantley assists)
18-15
8:21
+2
Javon Bennett makes two point layup (Zimi Nwokeji assists)
20-15
8:10
Rokas Jocius misses three point jump shot
8:08
Javon Bennett defensive rebound
8:00
Kobe Elvis misses three point jump shot
7:58
Rokas Jocius defensive rebound
7:46
Rokas Jocius misses two point jump shot
7:44
DaRon Holmes II defensive rebound
7:33
Zimi Nwokeji turnover (traveling)
7:33
TV timeout
7:15
+2
Anwar Gill makes two point layup
20-17
6:58
+2
DaRon Holmes II makes two point layup (Javon Bennett assists)
22-17
6:38
Andres Marrero misses three point jump shot
6:36
Ryan Zan offensive rebound
6:10
Daeshon Shepherd misses three point jump shot
6:08
Flyers defensive rebound
5:59
+2
DaRon Holmes II makes two point layup
24-17
5:59
Daeshon Shepherd shooting foul (DaRon Holmes II draws the foul)
5:59
+1
DaRon Holmes II makes regular free throw 1 of 1
25-17
5:57
Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi misses three point jump shot
5:55
Kobe Elvis defensive rebound
5:41
Nate Santos misses three point jump shot
5:39
Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi defensive rebound
5:28
Andres Marrero misses three point jump shot
5:26
DaRon Holmes II defensive rebound
5:20
+2
Kobe Elvis makes two point layup (DaRon Holmes II assists)
27-17
5:09
Anwar Gill misses two point jump shot
5:07
Koby Brea defensive rebound
4:59
DaRon Holmes II misses two point jump shot
4:57
Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi defensive rebound
4:33
Javon Bennett personal foul
4:17
+2
Andres Marrero makes two point jump shot
27-19
4:07
Ryan Zan personal foul (DaRon Holmes II draws the foul)
3:56
+3
Kobe Elvis makes three point jump shot (DaRon Holmes II assists)
30-19
3:33
Rokas Jocius turnover (Kobe Elvis steals)
3:23
Nate Santos misses two point jump shot
3:21
Rokas Jocius defensive rebound
3:06
Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi misses two point layup
3:04
DaRon Holmes II defensive rebound
2:54
+2
Kobe Elvis makes two point layup
32-19
2:40
Enoch Cheeks personal foul
2:40
TV timeout
2:30
Enoch Cheeks blocks Jhamir Brickus's two point jump shot
2:28
DaRon Holmes II defensive rebound
2:15
DaRon Holmes II misses two point jump shot
2:13
Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi defensive rebound
1:53
Khalil Brantley misses three point jump shot
1:51
Explorers offensive rebound
1:35
+2
Khalil Brantley makes two point layup
32-21
0:59
+2
DaRon Holmes II makes two point jump shot
34-21
0:41
+2
Rokas Jocius makes two point layup (Khalil Brantley assists)
34-23
0:14
Kobe Elvis misses two point layup
0:12
Kobe Elvis offensive rebound
0:12
+2
Kobe Elvis makes two point layup
36-23
0:04
Khalil Brantley misses two point layup
0:02
Explorers offensive rebound
0:01
Explorers 30 second timeout
0:01
Andres Marrero misses three point jump shot
0:00
Explorers offensive rebound
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
DAYT
Flyers
30
LAS
Explorers
31
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:53
Kobe Elvis misses three point jump shot
19:51
Daeshon Shepherd defensive rebound
19:28
Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi misses three point jump shot
19:26
Flyers defensive rebound
19:21
Ryan Zan personal foul
19:02
Enoch Cheeks misses three point jump shot
19:00
Khalil Brantley defensive rebound
18:47
Khalil Brantley misses two point jump shot
18:45
Nate Santos defensive rebound
18:36
Nate Santos misses three point jump shot
18:34
Enoch Cheeks offensive rebound
18:22
+2
Enoch Cheeks makes two point layup
38-23
18:05
+2
Daeshon Shepherd makes two point jump shot
38-25
17:46
DaRon Holmes II turnover (bad pass)
17:27
Khalil Brantley misses two point jump shot
17:25
Daeshon Shepherd offensive rebound
17:21
Daeshon Shepherd misses two point layup
17:19
Flyers defensive rebound
16:55
Kobe Elvis misses three point jump shot
16:53
Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi defensive rebound
16:44
Javon Bennett personal foul
16:38
Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi misses three point jump shot
16:36
DaRon Holmes II defensive rebound
16:17
+2
DaRon Holmes II makes two point dunk
40-25
15:53
+3
Daeshon Shepherd makes three point jump shot (Jhamir Brickus assists)
40-28
15:22
DaRon Holmes II misses three point jump shot
15:20
Daeshon Shepherd defensive rebound
15:10
Khalil Brantley turnover (DaRon Holmes II steals)
15:05
DaRon Holmes II turnover (Jhamir Brickus steals)
15:01
Kobe Elvis personal foul
15:01
TV timeout
14:39
DaRon Holmes II blocks Daeshon Shepherd's two point layup
14:37
Kobe Elvis defensive rebound
14:35
Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi blocks Enoch Cheeks's two point layup
14:33
Flyers offensive rebound
14:32
Koby Brea misses three point jump shot
14:30
Daeshon Shepherd defensive rebound
14:12
Jhamir Brickus misses three point jump shot
14:10
Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi offensive rebound
13:35
+3
Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi makes three point jump shot (Jhamir Brickus assists)
40-31
13:09
Khalil Brantley personal foul (DaRon Holmes II draws the foul)
12:56
DaRon Holmes II misses two point layup
12:54
Rokas Jocius defensive rebound
12:36
Daeshon Shepherd misses three point jump shot
12:34
Rokas Jocius offensive rebound
12:28
Rokas Jocius misses two point layup
12:26
Enoch Cheeks defensive rebound
12:21
+2
Nate Santos makes two point layup
42-31
12:21
Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi shooting foul (Nate Santos draws the foul)
12:21
+1
Nate Santos makes regular free throw 1 of 1
43-31
12:02
+2
Jhamir Brickus makes two point jump shot
43-33
11:29
+2
Nate Santos makes two point jump shot (Kobe Elvis assists)
45-33
11:09
Daeshon Shepherd misses two point jump shot
11:07
Koby Brea defensive rebound
11:01
Kobe Elvis misses two point layup
10:59
Rokas Jocius defensive rebound
10:48
TV timeout
10:46
+2
Andres Marrero makes two point jump shot (Khalil Brantley assists)
45-35
10:29
Javon Bennett misses two point layup
10:27
Rokas Jocius defensive rebound
10:11
+2
Rokas Jocius makes two point layup (Andres Marrero assists)
45-37
9:58
Koby Brea misses three point jump shot
9:56
Jhamir Brickus defensive rebound
9:44
+2
Anwar Gill makes two point layup
45-39
9:42
Isaac Jack personal foul
9:42
+1
Anwar Gill makes regular free throw 1 of 1
45-40
9:39
DaRon Holmes II turnover (Jhamir Brickus steals)
9:28
+2
Jhamir Brickus makes two point jump shot
45-42
8:57
Flyers 30 second timeout
8:57
TV timeout
8:47
+3
Javon Bennett makes three point jump shot
48-42
8:32
Nate Santos personal foul (Rokas Jocius draws the foul)
8:30
+3
Jhamir Brickus makes three point jump shot (Khalil Brantley assists)
48-45
8:08
+3
Javon Bennett makes three point jump shot (DaRon Holmes II assists)
51-45
7:53
Andres Marrero misses three point jump shot
7:51
Nate Santos defensive rebound
7:24
+2
DaRon Holmes II makes two point layup
53-45
7:16
Javon Bennett personal foul
7:16
TV timeout
6:53
Explorers turnover (shot clock violation)
6:33
+2
DaRon Holmes II makes two point layup
55-45
6:16
Andres Marrero misses three point jump shot
6:14
DaRon Holmes II defensive rebound
5:44
DaRon Holmes II misses three point jump shot
5:42
Daeshon Shepherd defensive rebound
5:34
Khalil Brantley misses two point jump shot
5:32
Nate Santos defensive rebound
5:07
Nate Santos misses two point layup
5:07
Daeshon Shepherd defensive rebound
5:07
DaRon Holmes II personal foul
4:43
+3
Andres Marrero makes three point jump shot (Anwar Gill assists)
55-48
4:38
Explorers 30 second timeout
4:20
Anwar Gill personal foul
4:11
+2
Nate Santos makes two point dunk (Koby Brea assists)
57-48
3:57
+2
Khalil Brantley makes two point layup
57-50
3:35
+3
Javon Bennett makes three point jump shot (DaRon Holmes II assists)
60-50
3:33
Flyers 30 second timeout
3:33
TV timeout
3:05
Khalil Brantley turnover (Nate Santos steals)
2:50
Javon Bennett turnover (lost ball)
2:42
DaRon Holmes II blocks Anwar Gill's two point layup
2:40
Koby Brea defensive rebound
2:24
Daeshon Shepherd personal foul (DaRon Holmes II draws the foul)
2:23
Enoch Cheeks turnover (Daeshon Shepherd steals)
2:21
Nate Santos shooting foul (Daeshon Shepherd draws the foul)
2:21
Daeshon Shepherd misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:21
+1
Daeshon Shepherd makes regular free throw 2 of 2
60-51
1:50
Kobe Elvis misses two point jump shot
1:48
Daeshon Shepherd defensive rebound
1:38
Daeshon Shepherd misses two point layup
1:36
Flyers defensive rebound
1:31
Khalil Brantley personal foul
1:11
DaRon Holmes II misses two point jump shot
1:09
Nate Santos offensive rebound
1:03
+2
Nate Santos makes two point layup
62-51
0:56
+3
Andres Marrero makes three point jump shot (Daeshon Shepherd assists)
62-54
0:55
Explorers 60 second timeout
0:49
Anwar Gill personal foul (Javon Bennett draws the foul)
0:49
+1
Javon Bennett makes regular free throw 1 of 2
63-54
0:49
+1
Javon Bennett makes regular free throw 2 of 2
64-54
0:33
Khalil Brantley misses three point jump shot
0:31
DaRon Holmes II defensive rebound
0:24
+2
Nate Santos makes two point dunk (Javon Bennett assists)
