DAYTON, OHIO – The Dayton Flyers are set to host the Central Michigan Chippewas this Sunday at 1 p.m. EST, marking another exciting matchup in the Division 1 college basketball season.
Currently, the Flyers hold a record of 5-4, showing impressive performances at home where they have registered five wins against just one loss. Meanwhile, the Chippewas come to Dayton with a record of 3-6, having struggled on the road so far, managing only one win out of three attempts.
Dayton ranks second in the Atlantic 10 (A-10) conference, averaging 36.3 rebounds per game, and features key player Arianna Smith, who leads the team with 7.8 boards. Their ability to control the glass will be pivotal against Central Michigan, which is ranked fourth in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) with 23.9 defensive rebounds per game, spearheaded by Jess Lawson, who averages 7.3 rebounds.
While rebounding stats suggest the Flyers might have the upper hand, their shooting efficiency remains under scrutiny. Dayton carries a shooting percentage of 38.7% this season, which is slightly lower than Central Michigan’s opposing average, allowing teams to shoot 40.5%. Conversely, the Chippewas have faced their own challenges, posting a field goal percentage of 36.5%, which is 2.3% lower than the points per game allowed by Dayton at 38.8%.
The players to watch this game will be Ivy Wolf for the Flyers, boasting 41.3% shooting and averaging 16.7 points per game, and Jayda Mosley for the Chippewas, who is currently shooting 30.2% from beyond the arc with 1.4 three-pointers per game, averaging 4.8 points.
With both teams vying for momentum, this matchup could prove decisive for the trajectories of their seasons. The Flyers, fortified by their home crowd, will aim to extend their winning streak at home, leveraging their rebounding prowess. Meanwhile, Central Michigan will look to capitalize on Dayton's vulnerabilities to turn their road woes around.
Regardless of the outcome, this clash promises to showcase the fervor and unpredictability of college basketball, adding another chapter to the storied rivalry of Division 1 sports.
— The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
