March 6, 2002

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - D.J. Stelly had a career-high 19 points, making 7-of-11 from the field, as Dayton defeated Rhode Island 90-71 in the first round of the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament Wednesday afternoon.

The Flyers (19-9) advanced to play Saint Joseph's in the quarterfinals Thursday.

Sean Finn matched a career-high with 17 points, Brooks Hall scored 17 points and David Morris matched a career high with 11 assists for Dayton.

Troy Wiley had 17 points and Lazare Adingono added 10 for the Rams (8-20), who finish the season by losing seven of their last nine. Rhode Island has not won an A-10 conference game since winning the tournament title in 1999, losing in three straight opening round games.

Leading by four, the Flyers scored 22 of the next 29, taking a 72-57 lead when Ramod Marshall made a fast break layup. The lead reached 24 when scored 11 straight points, capped by a 3-pointer by Stelly with 5:02 remaining.

Dayton scored the last five points of the first half and the first seven of the second half to open up a 50-39 lead with 18:27 left. The Rams got back to within four by scoring seven straight, including five by Wiley, who capped the run with a fast break dunk.

The Flyers scored the last five points of the first half to take a 43-39 lead at halftime. Hall and Stelly each had 12 points in the half, including two 3-pointers.