Six years ago today... A Dayton Xavier thriller at UD Arena

On this day in 2005, the last time the 19^th was on a Saturday, the Dayton Flyers hosted the Xavier Musketeers at UD Arena, it was a game televised by ESPN. The Flyers led by 2 at the half and midway through the second half the Flyers found themselves down by five with 4:30 minutes to go. Monty Scott drilled a three from the right wing to bring the Flyers to within two. After a Dayton basket that tied the game with 90 seconds left, Xavier sophomore Justin Doleman scored on the low block and it set the stage for Marques Bennett’s 15 minutes of fame. On Dayton’s next possession, Bennett took a pass at the High Post, drove down the lane and made a driving lay-up. He converted the ensuing free throw to give Dayton the lead. After A Xavier missed shot, Bennett grabbed the rebound and made the two free throws to seal Dayton’s exciting 59-55 victory. Bennett was named the games most outstanding player for his last minute heroics and his name would be etched in with Rodney Horton for his final minute heroics in 1996. I was at the game with My parents, My aunt and uncle John and Sharon Rittenhouse, their two sons, Josh and Zach, who was a Dayton freshmen at the time and he also had his body painted red with a white letter on his chest. It was at the time the loudest Arena I have ever been in. Xavier finished the season at a respectable 17-13 and Dayton finished the season 18-12 and Brian Gregory was named Atlantic 10 coach of the year and he earned it as well.