Dayton erupts in second half to dispatch Florida State

Field Level Media|published: Tue 16th December, 21:47 2025

Nov 28, 2025; Kissimmee, FL, USA; Dayton Flyers forward Amael L'Etang (29) reacts after making a three point shot against the Brigham Young University Cougars in the first half during the ESPN Events Invitational at State Farm Field House. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Javon Bennett scored a game-high 25 points on Tuesday, helping Dayton post a dominant 97-69 victory over visiting Florida State.

De'Shayne Montgomery added 20 points for the Flyers (9-3), who won their 33rd straight home nonconference game. Jordan Derkack totaled 13 points and nine rebounds, Keonte Jones scored 11 points, while Amael L'Etang and Malcolm Thomas each finished with 10 points.

Dayton shot 49% from the field (25-for-51) and made 40 of its 47 (85.1%) free throw attempts.

Florida State (5-6) was led by Kobe MaGee's 15 points and Lajae Jones' 14 points and eight boards. Martin Somerville scored 11 points and Robert McCray V had 10 for the Seminoles, who dropped their fifth straight game.

Leading by 11 at halftime, Dayton extended the margin to 16 as Bennett's 3-pointer gave the Flyers a 53-37 edge with 16:57 left.

Cam Miles' layup trimmed Florida State's deficit to 12, but Bennett scored six of Dayton's 10-0 run as the Flyers grabbed a 67-45 lead.

Miles' mid-range jumper cut Dayton's lead to 20, before Derkack's foul shots and Montgomery's steal and reverse slam gave the Flyers a commanding 81-57 advantage with 6:31 left.

A chippy game throughout, Florida State committed its third technical foul of the night with 3:28 left, as Jones slung Derkack to the ground, resulting in four straight Dayton free throws, giving the Flyers a 91-64 lead.

After Somerville's 3-pointer gave Florida State its first lead at 3-2, Thomas' triple stamped a 9-2 Dayton spurt

Jones' layup began a 14-2 run, capped with Derkack's free throws to give the Flyers a 30-12 advantage.

From there, Miles and Somerville's baskets jumpstarted a 12-1 Florida State run, cutting the visitors' deficit to 31-24 with 3:38 left in the first half. MaGee's layup pulled the Seminoles within seven at the 1:28 mark, before Derkack scored the final four points of the opening half to give Dayton a 42-31 halftime-lead.

The Flyers made 16 of their 17 (94.1%) free throws in the first half and forced 10 Florida State turnovers in the first 20 minutes.

--Field Level Media

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