Toppin's 31 lead No. 20 Dayton over North Florida 77-59
By JOE KAY - Dec. 30, 2019 09:12 PM EST
Dayton head coach Anthony Grant gives instructions during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against North Florida, Monday Dec. 30, 2019, in Dayton. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Dayton head coach Anthony Grant gives instructions during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against North Florida, Monday Dec. 30, 2019, in Dayton. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
North Florida head coach Matthew Driscoll, right, reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Dayton, Monday, Dec. 30, 2019, in Dayton. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Dayton guard Trey Landers (3) puts up a shot against North Florida guard Garrett Sams (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday Dec. 30, 2019, in Dayton. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
North Florida forward Dorian James, left, and Dayton guard Trey Landers, right, fight for control of the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday Dec. 30, 2019, in Dayton. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Dayton guard Trey Landers shouts as he gets control of the basketball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against North Florida, Monday Dec. 30, 2019, in Dayton. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Dayton guard Dwayne Cohill, left, and North Florida guard J.T. Escobar, right, fight for the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday Dec. 30, 2019, in Dayton. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
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DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Obi Toppin scored a career-high 31 points, most of them off dunks and layups, as No. 20 Dayton used its front-line advantage and pulled away from North Florida 77-59 on Monday night.

The Flyers (11-2) took advantage of their height mismatch and used their quickness to force 21 turnovers that set up easy baskets. Dayton scored 52 of its points in the paint.

Toppin led the way, going 15 of 24 from the field. He also had a team-high eight rebounds. Rodney Chatman had nine assists, repeatedly finding Toppin free underneath.

Point guard Jalen Crutcher returned after missing one game with a concussion and had 11 points with a pair of assists.

North Florida (7-8) leads the nation in 3-pointers made, but couldn't make enough to keep it close. The Ospreys went 12 of 28 from beyond the arc. Carter Hendricksen led with 12 points.

Aware of North Florida's preference to shoot away, the Flyers extended their defense at the outset and gave up layups. The Ospreys pulled ahead 12-8 before Dayton regrouped out of a timeout.

A full-court press forced three quick turnovers and a 12-0 spurt that put Dayton ahead to stay. Crutcher had a 3 and a three-point play to spark the spurt.

Turnovers were the difference as Dayton pulled away, getting nine steals in the first half. The Flyers stretched the lead to 18 as Toppin had back-to-back baskets, the second off an offensive rebound.

The Flyers had back-to-back dunks — the second by Toppin — early in the second half while extending the lead to 22 points. Toppin repeatedly got free under the basket for alley-oop dunks.

BIG PICTURE

North Florida: It was the Ospreys' third game against a ranked team this season. They also lost at No. 6 Florida 74-59 and at No. 19 Florida State 98-81.

Dayton: Ibi Watson started the last game with Crutcher out and had a career-high 30 points in an 81-53 win over Grambling, showing the Flyers' depth. He came off the bench Monday and hit a 3 that put Dayton up 36-22 in the first half. Watson finished with seven points.

UP NEXT

North Florida: Begins Atlantic Sun play at Kennesaw State on Thursday.

Dayton: Opens Atlantic 10 play at La Salle on Thursday.

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