Preview: Dayton Looks to Extend Win Streak at La Salle

PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — The surging Dayton Flyers, ranked 15th nationally, will put their five-game winning streak on the line Wednesday night against a struggling La Salle Explorers squad at Tom Gola Arena.

Dayton (14-3, 5-0 Atlantic 10) enters as one of the conference’s hottest teams, having won 10 of its last 11 games. The Flyers are coming off a dominant 78-51 victory over Loyola Chicago last Friday, where they showcased a balanced attack. Guard Javon Bennett scored 19 points with four assists, while De’Shayne Montgomery added a team-high 21 points.

Bennett has been the engine for Dayton, averaging 17.6 points over his last five contests. He dropped 24 points in a narrow road win at Loyola Chicago on Jan. 3 and followed with 20 against George Washington on Jan. 6.

La Salle (6-13, 2-3) seeks consistency after snapping a three-game skid with a 78-74 home win over Saint Bonaventure on Saturday. The Explorers have struggled defensively, allowing 74.3 points per game this season.

Jerome Brewer powered the Explorers’ last victory, erupting for 27 points and six rebounds. His scoring has been volatile, however, following that performance with just six points in a loss at Richmond. Jaeden Marshall, who had 23 points against the Bonnies, provides a secondary scoring option.

The matchup pits one of the Atlantic 10’s most efficient offenses against its most porous defense. Dayton leads the conference in scoring margin (+14.7), while La Salle ranks near the bottom. The Flyers have also been stout defensively, holding opponents to 60.2 points per game during their current streak.

History favors Dayton, which has won the last seven meetings. The Flyers won both contests last season by an average of 22.5 points.

For La Salle to spring the upset, it will need a high-volume scoring night from Brewer and Marshall while finding a way to disrupt Dayton’s methodical offense. The Flyers aim to continue their march toward an A-10 regular-season title and will view this as a must-win to maintain their league lead.

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. EST Wednesday. Dayton visits Saint Joseph’s on Saturday, while La Salle travels to Fordham on Jan. 28.