No. 4 Dayton gets A-10 title with 82-67 win over Davidson

 Obi Toppin demonstrated his assortment of dunks while scoring 23 points with near-perfect shooting, and No. 4 Dayton clinched the Atlantic 10 title Friday night, beating Davidson 82-67 for its 18th straight victory.

The Flyers (27-2, 16-0) showed off their offensive versatility while claiming their first regular season title in three years.

Toppin led the way, providing a pair of fast-break dunks in the second half that were exclamation points on Dayton's sensational season. He went 10 of 11 from the field and had 12 rebounds.

Five Flyers finished in double figures as Dayton shot 72.3% from the field, its best mark since it made 77.5% against Southern on March 1, 1986. Guard Ibi Watson came off the bench and scored 13 points, taking a bigger load in the offense with Jalen Crutcher in foul trouble. Crutcher finished with 14 points.

Grant decided not to cut down the nets, given that the Flyers have another home game left and bigger goals ahead. Dayton got the title in Grant’s third season since returning to his alma mater.

“I’m the luckiest man in the world,” Grant said. “It’s rare you get to do it at your alma mater.”

Kellan Grady had 23 points for Davidson (15-13, 9-7).

Toppin was the catalyst. He had a dunk, a long 3 from the top of the key and a floater in the lane that gave Dayton a 21-13 lead.

The Flyers’ guards then took control.

Rodney Chatman had a layup and a 3-pointer, Watson scored on three consecutive drives to the basket and Toppin hit another 3 for a 40-21 lead, the Flyers’ biggest of the half.

Dayton came into the game leading the nation in field goal percentage at 52%. The Flyers shot 69% in the first half, with most of their points coming off drives to the basket.

Toppin had a pair of fast-break dunks — the second one a reverse slam — that brought the crowd of 13,407 to its feet and pushed Dayton’s lead to 56-33 early in the second half, when Dayton went 16 of 21 from the field with all five misses from beyond the arc.

Davidson’s Jon Axel Gudmunsson scored 17 of his 20 points in the second half, when the Wildcats never got closer than 12.

BIG PICTURE

Davidson completed a resurgent month, going 5-3 with four wins by at least 25 points.

Dayton is two wins from running the table in the Atlantic 10. The Flyers haven’t lost since a 78-76 overtime defeat against Colorado on Dec. 21.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

The Flyers held their own this week after moving up to No. 4, their highest ranking since they were No. 3 at the end of the 1955-56 season. They also won 62-55 at George Mason on Tuesday.

AGAINST THE BEST

The Wildcats are 17-123 all-time against ranked teams. Their last win over a Top 25 team was March 22, 2018, a 58-57 victory over No. 25 Rhode Island in the A-10 Tournament title game. Their last win over a ranked team on the road was Jan. 4, 1972, an 88-84 victory over St. John’s.