Dayton Flyers Face George Mason in High-Stakes Home Game

DAYTON, Ohio — The Dayton Flyers (11-5, 1-2 Atlantic 10) will host George Mason (12-5, 3-1) at 7 p.m. Wednesday at UD Arena, aiming to extend their 26-game home winning streak. The Patriots are the last team to defeat Dayton on its home court, securing a victory on Feb. 25, 2023.

Dayton enters the game after a week-long break following a 76-72 loss to UMass last Wednesday. The Flyers are seeking to avoid their first three-game losing streak in conference play since January 2014. Head coach Anthony Grant emphasized the need for improvement, stating, “We’ve got to do some soul searching together. We’re not playing well. We’ve got to figure out what we can do collectively to fix whatever’s ailing us.”

George Mason, meanwhile, arrives with momentum after defeating UMass 77-70 on Saturday. The Patriots have won three straight games against Dayton and five of the last eight matchups. Last season, George Mason celebrated its first victory against a ranked Dayton team, outscoring the Flyers 24-10 at the foul line during a decisive 19-0 run.

The series history favors Dayton, which leads 10-6. However, George Mason has proven to be a formidable opponent, particularly in recent years. Dayton’s home winning streak, currently tied for the fifth-longest active streak in the nation, will be tested against a Patriots team that ranks fourth in the Atlantic 10 standings.

Key players to watch include George Mason’s Darius Maddox, who leads the team in scoring with 13.8 points per game, and Dayton’s Nate Santos, who scored 18 points in the loss to UMass. The Flyers will rely on their strong turnover margin (ranked 20th nationally) to counter George Mason’s struggles in that area (ranked 330th).

According to analytics, Dayton has a 74% chance of winning, with a predicted score of 70-63. The game is a Quad 3 matchup for Dayton and a Quad 1 opportunity for George Mason, adding stakes for both teams as they vie for position in the conference standings.

Fans can catch the action on CBS Sports Network, with live radio coverage available on 1290 and 95.7.