Associated Press
New York, NY — Looking for their first NIT Championship in 42 years, the University of Dayton Flyers will take on the North Carolina Tar Heels on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.
The Flyers have won four straight and enter the contest 24-12 overall. Dayton ranks in the Top 25 in the nation and first in the Atlantic 10 in rebounding margin (plus-5.8) and in the Top 35 in the NCAA in scoring defense (62.1 points per game). In fact, the Flyers have held 27 of their 35 opponents this season below their scoring average. In A-10 and NIT postseason play, Marcus Johnson has been red hot averaging 13.9 points per game while shooting .500 (28-of-56) from the field. During NIT action, Chris Johnson averages 15.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
UD reached the championship game with a 68-63 win over Mississippi, behind 22 points and 10 rebounds by sophomore forward Chris Johnson. In the last 36 seconds, no Dayton player was bigger than Johnson. He came through with a clutch defensive rebound with the Flyers ahead by one, a steal and three made free throws to lift UD to the win.
The Tar Heels (20-16) were the No. 4 seed in their eight-team NIT bracket and are coming off a 68-67 overtime victory over Rhode Island in the semifinals. The defending national champions enter the title game on a four-game winning streak. The Tar Heels have held all four of their NIT opponents to under 42 percent shooting from the floor. Deon Thompson and Ed Davis lead the Tar Heel attack both averging more than 13 points per game.
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