Kansas basketball: Three most important wins from the 2019-20 season
#4 Kansas vs. Dayton, November 27
When Kansas basketball took ln Dayton in the Maui Invitational championship, the Flyers were still a relative unknown. Fast-forward to the present, and Obi Toppin is the AP National Player of the Year, a first-team All-American, and a projected lottery pick in the next NBA draft. Dayton head coach Anthony Grant was also named AP Coach of the Year.
The game was action-packed and a thriller from the moment the ball was tipped, and after a back-and-forth first half, Dayton took a slim 37-36 lead into halftime. The second half was more of the same, a fast-paced, back-and-forth affair that couldn’t be decided in 40 minutes. With just a few seconds left in regulation, Jalen Crutcher of Dayton knocked down a big-time three-pointer to tie the game at 73.
After some clutch free throws towards the end of overtime, Kansas was able to come with away with a 90-84 win, but the Flyers proved that they were one of the best teams in the nation.
Notable performances:
- Devon Dotson: 31 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals
- Udoka Azubuike: 29 points, 4 blocks
- Marcus Garrett: 18 points, 7 rebounds
- Obi Toppin: 18 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks
- Ryan Mikesell: 19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists
With Dayton maintaining their place in the top five of the AP Poll and likely getting a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Kansas’ early win over the Flyers on a neutral court proved to be extremely important down the stretch.