DAYTON, Ohio (Interstat) — Javon Bennett scored 25 points and Amael L’Etang recorded a double-double as the Dayton Flyers outlasted the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats 91-82 in a high-octane men’s NCAA basketball game Saturday at a raucous University of Dayton Arena.

A crowd of 13,407 saw the Flyers improve to 3-1 on the young season, while the Wildcats fell to 1-3.

The game was a tale of contrasting efficiencies. While Bethune-Cookman managed to keep the score close for much of the contest, Dayton’s offensive execution proved superior. The Flyers scored 91 points on just 66 possessions, a blistering offensive rating of 137.5, compared to the Wildcats’ 82 points on 74 possessions for a 110.6 rating.

Bethune-Cookman’s strategy was clear from the outset: attack the paint and capitalize on Dayton’s mistakes. The Wildcats dominated inside, scoring 48 points in the paint, and converted 21 points off 12 Dayton turnovers. They also won the battle in several hustle categories, finishing with more assists, 7-3, and more steals, 7-3.

However, Dayton’s shooting prowess from beyond the arc and the free-throw line ultimately made the difference. The Flyers were lethal from deep, connecting on 11 of 19 three-point attempts, a 57.9% clip. They were equally effective at the charity stripe, making 26 of 32 free throws. Bethune-Cookman, by contrast, shot 7 of 20 from three-point range and 9 of 15 from the line.

L’Etang, the 7-foot-1 center from Toulouse, France, was a force for Dayton, posting 18 points and 10 rebounds in 32 minutes, adding three assists and two blocks. Bennett, a guard from Orlando, Florida, complemented him with his 25-point, five-rebound, five-assist performance.

De’Shayne Montgomery added 16 points for the Flyers, while Keonte Jones chipped in 11 points and eight rebounds. Jordan Derkack facilitated the offense with a game-high six assists.

Bethune-Cookman’s effort was led by a balanced scoring attack. Arterio Morris paced the Wildcats with 19 points, while Jakobi Heady added 17 points, six rebounds and three assists. Quentin Heady scored 12 points and Seneca Willoughby came off the bench to contribute 10 points.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with Dayton taking a 45-39 lead into the break behind hot three-point shooting. The Flyers maintained their offensive rhythm in the second half, adding 46 points to the Wildcats’ 43 to secure the nine-point victory.

Despite the loss, Bethune-Cookman showed resilience, staying within striking distance against a favored Dayton team that was projected to win with a 98.3% probability and was installed as an 18-point pregame favorite. The combined score of 173 points sailed over the pregame over/under line of 148.5.

Bethune-Cookman looks to rebound on the road against Ohio on Wednesday. Dayton faces a tough test in its next outing, traveling to face Marquette, also on Wednesday.