In a thrilling matchup on Wednesday night, Dayton secured a 93-76 victory over Fordham, largely thanks to the outstanding performance of Malachi Smith, who contributed 18 points.
Smith also showcased his all-around game with five assists and three steals, helping the Flyers improve their record to 17-8 overall and 7-5 within the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Javon Bennett was another key player, scoring 16 points and shooting 50% from the field, including 43% from beyond the arc. Enoch Cheeks added valuable support with 14 points, demonstrating efficiency by making 80% of his field goal attempts and converting six of his seven free throw attempts.
On the other side, Jackie Johnson III was the standout performer for Fordham, leading the team with a remarkable 24 points, accompanied by four assists.
Josh Rivera contributed significantly with 17 points, while Japhet Medor matched him with 17 points as well.
The game was tightly contested in the first half, with both teams entering halftime tied at 48-48.
Dayton managed to gain momentum early in the second half, embarking on a 7-0 run that transformed a narrow three-point advantage into a more comfortable ten-point lead.
Looking ahead, both teams will return to action on Saturday, with Dayton preparing to host Duquesne and Fordham gearing up to face Richmond on the road.
