Boston at Dayton
December 29, 2009
By Nate Waggenspack
Rob Lowery scored a career high 23 points, Chris Wright added 19 and Dayton survived more excellent 3-point shooting and a 2nd half rally by Boston University to win 74-60.
It was a breakout performance for the senior guard, his first big game since being injured last season, and it came when Dayton needed it badly. Lowery went 7-9 from three-point land, while the rest of the Flyers shot a measly 2-14 from downtown.
The game looked like it would be a boring one for the sellout crowd at UD Arena in the first few minutes. Dayton opened the game on a 17-2 spurt, and BU looked out of sorts.
The dominance did not last long, though, as BU used some streaky 3-point shooting to bring themselves within striking distance, as they brought it to 27-19 with 6:34 to play in the half.
Lowery then took over for Dayton in the first half, hitting consecutive threes to keep UD up 33-23.
He saved his best for last however. On the final play of the half, Lowery almost ran away from the inbounds pass and surrendered a turnover. He recovered, however, and then hit a prayer from 35 feet to give Dayton a 41-29 lead going into the intermission.
In the second half Boston made it close instantly, hitting two threes in the first 45 seconds to pull within six.
Lowery then made his next best play of the game. On defense he swatted the ball away, dove for it, and then danced around under the legs of a BU guard before finally passing the ball off, then got the ball back and hit another three.
Boston continued to stroke well from behind the line, however, and stayed in the game. At one point Jake O'brien hit a three to make it 54-50, the closest BU had been since 6-2 in the first half.
Wright then took over, scoring six consecutive points to stretch the lead back out to double digits. The run was capped by a long alley-oop pass from London Warren that brought the house down with 11:24 left.
From that point on, BU was unable to close the gap. For every basket or small run the terriers were able to put together, UD seemed to have an answer.
The highlight of the final few minutes came when London Warren stepped into a passing lane and knocked the ball toward the sideline. In hustling to try and get the ball, London stepped on the scorers table and then jumped to avoid from falling straight down, over the railing and into the arms of fans in the first and second rows.
Dayton was able to hit free throws when the terriers began to foul with about 1:10 to play, and there was no miracle comeback in store.
Wright finished with 17 points and 7 rebounds. Chris Johnson does not appear to have lost much due to his injury, as he added 12 points on a perfect shooting night, four for four from the field and three for three from the foul line.
London Warren did not take a shot, but continues to impress from the point guard position. Warren had nine assists and just one turnover.
Dayton faces its final big test of the non-conference season when it travels to New Mexico to take on the Lobos New Years Day.
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