KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Interstat) — In a back-and-forth Thanksgiving battle that required an extra period to decide, the Dayton Flyers outlasted the Georgetown Hoyas 84-79 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

The game, played before a crowd of 4,276, saw both teams trade blows and squander late opportunities in regulation before the Flyers seized control in overtime to secure the victory and improve their season record to 6-1. Georgetown fell to 5-1 with the hard-fought loss.

Dayton appeared poised to run away with the game early, building a commanding 40-31 halftime lead behind a dominant inside presence. The Flyers’ 7-foot-1 center Amael L’Etang from Toulouse, France, was a central figure in the first-half surge, scoring 18 points, grabbing key rebounds and anchoring the defense.

Georgetown, however, refused to capitulate. The Hoyas chipped away at the deficit throughout the second half, fueled by the backcourt duo of Malik Mack and KJ Lewis. Mack, a guard from Oxon Hill, Maryland, poured in a game-high 24 points, while Lewis, from El Paso, Texas, orchestrated the offense with 19 points and seven assists.

The Hoyas’ comeback was also powered by their own 7-footer, Julius Halaifonua of Auckland, New Zealand, who scored 16 points and provided a formidable interior counter to L’Etang.

Georgetown finally erased Dayton’s lead and the teams traded baskets down the stretch in a frantic final minute of regulation. With the score tied, both sides had chances to win it in the final seconds, but a turnover by Georgetown’s Kayvaun Mulready with three seconds left gave Dayton one final opportunity. The Flyers’ ensuing play broke down, sending the game to overtime knotted at 69-69.

The extra period belonged to Dayton. The Flyers opened with a 7-0 run, capitalizing on a key three-pointer from Bryce Heard and stifling Georgetown’s offense. The Hoyas, who scored 10 points in overtime, could never fully recover from the initial burst, as their shooting went cold at the most critical juncture.

While L’Etang’s scoring was pivotal early, Dayton’s victory was a product of balanced contributions. De’Shayne Montgomery from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, scored 13 points, Jordan Derkack of Colonia, New Jersey, added 12, and Heard, from Chicago, chipped in 12 off the bench, including crucial baskets in overtime.

For Georgetown, Isaiah Abraham of Gainesville, Virginia, scored nine points, and reserve big man Jayden Fort from Washington, D.C., made his presence felt with three blocked shots in just 17 minutes of action.

The game was a tale of two halves and a decisive overtime. Dayton’s efficient first-half offense, where they scored 40 points, contrasted with Georgetown’s second-half resilience, where they outscored the Flyers 38-29 to force the extra session. Ultimately, Dayton’s 15-10 scoring advantage in overtime proved the difference.

The loss snaps a five-game winning streak for Georgetown to open the season, which included victories over Clemson and Maryland. Dayton, which also won in overtime against Marquette in its previous game, continues to build momentum in the early season.

Both teams are scheduled for a quick turnaround in the holiday event at the complex, with Georgetown set to face BYU on Friday, followed by Dayton also taking on BYU.