DAYTON, Ohio — In an intense matchup on Tuesday night, the University of Dayton narrowly triumphed over UNLV with a final score of 66-65, thanks in large part to Malachi Smith’s clutch performance in the closing moments of the game, where he scored five points in the last 37 seconds. Smith’s decisive three-point play ultimately helped secure the victory for the Flyers, who are now ranked No. 22 in the AP Top 25.

Nate Santos put forth a notable effort by scoring 14 points, contributing significantly to Dayton’s success as they extended their impressive home winning streak to 25 games, which is currently the fifth-longest in NCAA Division I history. Houston leads the nation with a streak of 27 games. Zed Key also played a key role in the victory, scoring 11 of his 13 points during the second half, while freshman Amael L’Etang added 10 points to the Flyers’ tally.

For UNLV, Dedan Thomas Jr. was the top scorer with 16 points, followed closely by Jaden Henley with 15 points, and Julian Rishwain, who made a notable impact by scoring 12 points with his four successful three-pointers. Rishwain was essential in energizing the UNLV offense in the second half after starting the game scoreless. He secured his first basket with just under eight minutes left and proceeded to score three consecutive three-pointers, allowing UNLV to capture their first lead in the second half at 55-53.

A critical moment in the game occurred when Santos sank a 3-pointer from the corner with only 1:15 remaining, bringing Dayton within one point at 62-61. Following a missed shot by UNLV, Smith seized the opportunity to score a swift layup, giving him the chance to seal the game for Dayton with only 37 seconds left. Rishwain managed to hit another three-pointer to give the Rebels a temporary lead at 65-63 with 23 seconds remaining, but Smith quickly responded by converting another three-point play, resulting in a one-point lead for the Flyers with eight seconds left. Unfortunately for UNLV, Thomas’ last-second jumper at the buzzer missed, sealing the victory for Dayton.

Statistically, the match was closely contested, featuring seven ties and eight lead changes. Both teams were consistent at the free-throw line, with each making 13 free throws and collecting 30 rebounds. Dayton finished the game shooting 24 of 51 from the field, while UNLV shot 22 of 53.

Looking ahead, UNLV will return to their home court to face UC Riverside on Saturday, while Dayton is set to challenge No. 19 Cincinnati this Friday in the Simple Truth Hoops Classic at the Heritage Bank Center.