Crutcher, Watson lift Dayton past Mississippi St. in 2OT
ATLANTA -- — Jalen Crutcher scored 23 points, making four of six free throws in the last 15 seconds but wasn't alone in claiming his nickname of Jalen Clutch-er as Dayton rallied to edge Mississippi State 85-82 in double overtime on Saturday in the Holiday Hoopsgiving event.
Ibi Watson added 21 points and dropped clutch 3-pointers throughout both overtime periods, also making 8 of 9 from the foul line with five assists. A pair of Watson 3s tied the game at 78 and then gave Dayton (3-1) an 81-78 lead it never surrendered.
The game was a battle throughout with 19 lead changes and a dozen ties. Dayton finished the final OT 3-for-3 from the floor and 6-of-9 from the line. Mississippi State (3-3) didn't get to the line at all in the final five minutes.
D.J. Stewart Jr. led the Bulldogs with a career-high 32 points, Iverson Molinar added 20 and Tolu Smith 13. Molinar dished seven assists.
Molinar went coast-to-coast for a jump shot that forced the first overtime at 64-all, and Dayton freshman R.J. Blakeney hit a 3-pointer, his first points and just his second shot of the game, to force the second OT at 72-all.
There were no fans in the 21,000-seat State Farm Arena, home to the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA. It was the first time Dayton has defeated Mississippi State in four meetings.
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Game Information
- Referees:
- Steven Anderson
- Marques Pettigrew
- Ray Natali
2023-24 Southeastern Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Tennessee | 14-4 | - | 27-9 |
Auburn | 13-5 | 1 | 27-8 |
South Carolina | 13-5 | 1 | 26-8 |
Kentucky | 13-5 | 1 | 23-10 |
Alabama | 13-5 | 1 | 25-12 |
Florida | 11-7 | 3 | 24-12 |
Texas A&M | 9-9 | 5 | 21-15 |
LSU | 9-9 | 5 | 17-16 |
Mississippi State | 8-10 | 6 | 21-14 |
Ole Miss | 7-11 | 7 | 20-12 |
Georgia | 6-12 | 8 | 20-17 |
Arkansas | 6-12 | 8 | 16-17 |
Vanderbilt | 4-14 | 10 | 9-23 |
Missouri | 0-18 | 14 | 8-24 |
2023-24 Atlantic 10 Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Richmond | 15-3 | - | 23-10 |
Loyola Chicago | 15-3 | - | 23-10 |
Dayton | 14-4 | 1 | 25-8 |
Massachusetts | 11-7 | 4 | 20-11 |
VCU | 11-7 | 4 | 24-14 |
Duquesne | 10-8 | 5 | 25-12 |
George Mason | 9-9 | 6 | 20-12 |
St. Bonaventure | 9-9 | 6 | 20-13 |
Saint Joseph's | 9-9 | 6 | 21-14 |
La Salle | 6-12 | 9 | 16-17 |
Fordham | 6-12 | 9 | 13-20 |
Rhode Island | 6-12 | 9 | 12-20 |
Davidson | 5-13 | 10 | 15-17 |
Saint Louis | 5-13 | 10 | 13-20 |
George Washington | 4-14 | 11 | 15-17 |