RICHMOND, Va. (Interstat) — In a grinding, defensive struggle defined by missed opportunities and crucial late-game execution, the Dayton Flyers held off the Richmond Spiders 65-60 in an Atlantic 10 Conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at Robins Center.

The Flyers, who led by as many as 13 points in the first half, saw their advantage whittled down to a single possession in the final minutes before securing the victory at the free-throw line. The win improved Dayton to 21-8 overall, while Richmond fell to an even 15-15.

Dayton built its early lead on the strength of efficient first-half shooting and a disruptive defensive effort. The Flyers shot 48.8% from the floor before halftime, connecting on 5 of 11 from three-point range, to take a 40-32 lead into the break. Richmond, conversely, struggled mightily from deep, a theme that would plague them throughout the night. The Spiders finished just 4 of 23 from beyond the arc, a 17.4% clip that undermined their offensive efforts.

The second half devolved into a tense, low-scoring affair. Dayton’s offensive rhythm stalled, managing only 25 points after halftime. Richmond’s defense, led by eight team steals, forced 15 Dayton turnovers. The Spiders slowly chipped away, closing the gap to 56-54 with just over five minutes remaining after a layup by Jaden Daughtry, who provided a spark off the bench with 11 points.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final 39 seconds with Dayton clinging to a 60-58 lead. Following a Richmond timeout, Flyers guard Jordan Derkack drove the lane and sank a contested jump shot to push the lead to four. On the ensuing possession, Richmond’s Aiden Argabright missed a layup, and Derkack secured the defensive rebound. Fouled immediately, the sophomore from Colonia, New Jersey, calmly sank both free throws to extend the lead to 64-58 with 25 seconds left, effectively sealing the outcome.

Richmond’s final attempts were thwarted by missed shots and a key turnover, and Derkack iced the game with another free throw in the closing seconds. The Spiders scored only two points in the final 5:53 of the game.

Dayton’s victory was anchored by balanced scoring and a significant advantage at the foul line. De’Shayne Montgomery led the Flyers with 15 points, while Derkack and 7-foot-1 center Amael L’Etang each added 13. L’Etang, from Toulouse, France, also contributed four assists. The Flyers made 15 of 18 free throws, an 83.3% rate that proved decisive in a tight contest.

Richmond was led by AJ Lopez’s 15 points, though he needed 18 shots to reach that total. Mike Walz added 10 points and four assists for the Spiders. While Richmond won the turnover battle, committing only six to Dayton’s 15, and had more assists and steals, their poor shooting from distance and the free-throw line, where they were 10 of 15, left them short.

The game’s tempo was deliberate, with Dayton using 61 possessions and Richmond 65. The Flyers posted an offensive rating of 107.3 points per 100 possessions, compared to Richmond’s 92.1, highlighting the efficiency gap that ultimately decided the game.

Defense was paramount for Dayton, which held an opponent under 70 points for the 18th time this season. The Flyers also blocked two shots, both by Keonte Jones, and limited Richmond’s second-chance opportunities despite being out-rebounded on the offensive glass.

A crowd of 4,658 watched the Spiders fight back from a double-digit deficit but fall just short in their final regular-season home game. Dayton, which entered as a 5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, defied a pregame statistical projection that gave them an 81.3% chance to win, though the total score fell well under the betting over/under of 146.

The Flyers will look to carry the momentum into their regular-season finale Friday when they host VCU. Richmond concludes its regular season on the road Saturday at Duquesne.