Dayton needed a response — and got one, barely. The Flyers (14-8) held on for a 72-70 win over St. Bonaventure (13-9) on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2026, turning a halftime cushion into just enough separation to survive a late charge.
How the game swung
The shape of the night was defined by two very different halves. Dayton controlled the second quarter to take a 41-30 lead into the break, putting St. Bonaventure in catch-up mode early. But the Bonnies flipped the tempo after intermission, pouring in 40 points in the fourth quarter — a surge that nearly erased Dayton’s advantage entirely.
Dayton didn’t match that late scoring pace (31 in the fourth), and the margin tightened possession by possession. Still, the Flyers did just enough in the closing moments to keep the Bonnies from completing the comeback.
By the numbers
Quarter scoring
Halftime: Dayton 41, St. Bonaventure 30
Fourth quarter: St. Bonaventure 40, Dayton 31
Final: Dayton 72, St. Bonaventure 70
What it means going forward
For Dayton, the win matters as much for stabilization as it does for the standings. Coming in on a four-game losing streak (LLLLW form), the Flyers found a way to bank a close one — and did it by building a cushion early that proved critical when the game turned into a late scramble.
For St. Bonaventure, the loss stings because the blueprint was right there: a massive fourth-quarter push gave them a real chance to steal it. But the early deficit forced them to play from behind, and against a team that already had 41 at halftime, there wasn’t enough room left for error.
Game details
League: NCAA
Season: 2025-2026
Date: February 4, 2026
Venue: TBD
Records: Dayton 14-8; St. Bonaventure 13-9