WASHINGTON (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive pressure and missed opportunities at the free throw line, the Dayton Flyers edged the George Washington Revolutionaries 68-66 in a tense Atlantic 10 Conference men’s basketball clash Friday night at Charles E. Smith Center.

The contest, played before a crowd of 3,703, was a stark contrast in styles. Dayton leveraged a disruptive defense and efficient perimeter shooting to build and maintain a lead, while George Washington relied on interior dominance and second-chance points to stay within striking distance. The Revolutionaries’ inability to convert from the charity stripe, where they shot 16 for 29, ultimately proved their undoing in the final moments.

Dayton guard Javon Bennett, a 5-foot-11 junior from Orlando, Florida, delivered a stellar performance, scoring a game-high 25 points. His offensive outburst, which included five 3-pointers, was crucial for a Flyers team that committed 16 turnovers. Bennett added four assists in 36 minutes, continuing a strong stretch of play that has seen him average over 18 points in his last four games.

The most critical sequence unfolded in the game’s frantic final 20 seconds. With Dayton clinging to a 66-64 lead, George Washington’s Tyrone Marshall drove for a potential tying layup, but his attempt was blocked by Dayton’s Keonte Jones with four seconds remaining. The Flyers’ Amael L’Etang secured the defensive rebound and was immediately fouled.

The 7-foot-1 French center, who finished with 10 points, calmly sank both free throws with 17 seconds left to extend the Dayton lead to four points. George Washington’s Rafael Castro answered with a put-back layup to make it 68-66 with just over four seconds on the clock. On the ensuing inbounds play, Dayton’s De’Shayne Montgomery was fouled and sent to the line for two shots with three seconds left. He missed the first but made the second, leaving the door slightly ajar for George Washington.

The Revolutionaries’ final attempt, a hurried layup by Castro as time expired, rolled off the rim, sealing the victory for the visiting Flyers.

Dayton improved to 20-8 overall and won its fourth consecutive game. George Washington fell to 16-13.

The Flyers’ victory was anchored by defensive intensity, as they recorded 14 steals and forced 18 George Washington turnovers, converting them into 21 points. Offensively, they shot a sharp 45.8% from 3-point range, making 11 of 24 attempts, which offset a significant rebounding deficit. George Washington hammered Dayton on the glass, grabbing 13 offensive rebounds and winning the total rebounding battle 38-24, leading to 19 second-chance points.

George Washington was led by a balanced scoring effort. Castro, a 6-foot-11 forward from Dover, New Jersey, posted 16 points and nine rebounds. Trey Autry of Jamesville, New York, scored 15 points, while Jean Aranguren of Valencia, Venezuela, added 12 points and five assists. Marshall contributed 12 points, two blocks, and two steals off the bench.

Dayton’s Jaiun Simon provided key support with nine points, and Montgomery finished with 11 points. Jones, despite scoring only four points, made his presence felt with three assists, two blocks, and two steals.

The game was a tight affair throughout, with Dayton taking a 34-31 lead into halftime. The Flyers never trailed in the second half, but could never pull away, as George Washington consistently attacked the offensive glass to create scoring chances.

According to pregame analytics from Interstat, Dayton had a 64.4% probability to win, though George Washington was installed as a 3.5-point favorite by oddsmakers. The combined score of 134 points fell well under the over/under line of 153.5.

Dayton next travels to face Richmond on Tuesday. George Washington will host Saint Bonaventure on Wednesday.