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DAYTON, Ohio (Ticker) -- Detroit opens the 2002 National Invitation Tournament against Dayton on Wednesday in a rematch of last year's third-round game. One of Detroit's oldest rivals is Dayton, with the series beginning in 1915. The Flyers hold a 32-29 all-time lead, but the Detroit posted a 59-42 win on March 21, 2001 in the quarterfinals of the NIT at University of Detroit Arena. The Titans were defeated by Alabama in the semifinals and then by Memphis in the third-place game of last year's NIT. Detroit (18-12) was eliminated in the semifinals of the Horizon League tournament by Illinois-Chicago, snapping a season-high five-game winning streak. The Titans have been over .500 the last seven seasons and can notch their fifth straight 20-victory campaign by winning two games in the NIT. This will be Detroit's sixth appearance in the NIT. Greg Grays lead the Titans with 17.6 points per game while Willie Green adds 13.5 points and Terrell Riggs 11.4. Dayton (20-10) fell in the Atlantic 10 semifinals to Xavier, but has won six of its last nine games. The three defeats over that span was a two-point loss at St. Joseph's on February 23, an overtime setback to Temple in Dayton on February 27 and the loss to No. 19 Xavier. This is the first time since 1969 that the Flyers have won 20 games or more in three consecutive seasons. This is Dayton's 20th trip to the NIT. The Flyers are 34-19 all time in the tournament and have won more games at Madison Square Garden (25) than any team outside New York City. Brooks Hall averages a team-leading 13.3 points for Dayton while Ramod Marshall contributes 13.2 and Keither Waleskowski 9.7 and 8.2 rebounds. The winner of Tuesday's contest will face either Georgia State or Tennessee Tech in the second round. |
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