DAYTON, Ohio (Dec. 1, 2025) – ETSU made a lot of reasons to remember November. Now they want a flying start to December.

The Buccaneer men's basketball team heads north for the first time this season to visit the Dayton Flyers in search of their sixth straight victory. Tipoff is set for 7:00pm on Tuesday at UD Arena.

MATCHUP: ETSU (6-1) vs. Dayton (6-2)
DATE: December 2, 2025, 7:00pm
VENUE: UD Arena (Dayton, OH)
TV: ESPN+
RADIO: WXSM-AM 640 (Jay Sandos)
LIVE STATS: StatBroadcast
 
The Bucs are on a five-game winning streak, matching their longest of the Brooks Savage era and the longest comprised solely of regular season games since November 18-27, 2021. The team's 6-1 start is also the team's best through seven games since the 2019-20 season when they also started 6-1. Brian Taylor II recorded the fourth triple-double in program history in an 80-57 win over Central Arkansas on Saturday with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, the latter two of which were career-high totals. Taylor's triple-double is one of just eight collected nationwide in the month of November. Guard Jaylen Smith collected career-highs in points (28), made threes (7), and rebounds (8) in 31 minutes off the bench against the Bears, as well.

ETSU remains an exceptional defensive team, ranking 8th in Division I in scoring defense (61.3), 19th in field goal percentage defense (37.1%), and 14th in steals per game (10.9). They lead the SoCon in all three categories as well as three-point percentage defense (29.0%) and defensive rebounding per game (26.57).

The Flyers come in off an 83-79 loss to ninth-ranked BYU in Orlando. Dayton erased a 13-point deficit to tie the game at 67 with four minutes left but could not retake the lead as the Cougars held on. Javon Bennett had 22 points including 6-for-11 shooting on three-pointers, and Bryce Heard had 16 points in 23 minutes off the bench. Bennett is the A10's second-leading scorer by total points (135) and fourth-leading scorer per game (16.9). Georgia transfer De'Shayne Montgomery (14.4) and 7'1" sophomore Amael L'Etang (13.4) are also among the A10's top scorers. Like the Buccaneers, the Flyers turn their opponents over frequently, ranking 23rd in the country in turnovers force per game (16.75) and 56th in steals (9.1).

This is the fourth meeting between ETSU and Dayton in men's basketball, all of which have been played at UD Arena. The Flyers own a 2-1 advantage in the series. ETSU's lone win came December 1, 2010, when Justin Tubbs scored 26 points including seven made threes, Mike Smith scored 17 points, and Micah Williams added 16 with seven made free throws in the final 42 seconds to ice a 73-68 win for the Bucs.

For more information on ETSU men's basketball, go to ETSUBucs.com.