The No. 23 Saint Louis Billikens (25-2 overall, 13-1 in Atlantic 10 play) face a tough road test on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, as they travel to UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, to take on the Dayton Flyers (18-9 overall, 9-5 in A-10). Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CT, with the game airing on FanDuel Sports Network and KPLR STL 11, simulcast on ESPN+, and available on radio via 104.1 FM / 1120 AM KMOX with Bob Ramsey and Earl Austin Jr. calling the action.
Under second-year head coach Josh Schertz (recently named to the Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year Watch List), Saint Louis has been one of the most explosive and efficient teams in the country. The Billikens boast a perfect 25-2 record, marking just the second time in program history they’ve reached this mark (previously in 2013-14). A victory tonight would make them 26-2—the best start in school history.
SLU ranks among the nation’s elite in multiple categories:
- Leading the NCAA in scoring margin (+22.0) and fifth in scoring offense (90.1 ppg)—on pace to shatter the A-10 single-season scoring record of 87.3 ppg set by West Virginia in 1990-91.
- Second nationally in 3-point percentage (.408), with 306 made threes already ranking second in program single-season history.
- Top defensive FG% (.363 allowed) and third in 3FG% defense (.277).
- Eighth in rebound margin (+9.5) and leading the country in defensive rebounds per game (31.0).
The offense spreads the wealth, with seven players averaging 9.6+ ppg and eight different players leading the team in scoring at least once this season.
Key contributors include:
- Robbie Avila (team-leading scorer), who tops Division I centers in assists per game (4.2) and 3-pointers made per game (1.8). His career 1,886 points rank ninth among active NCAA Division I players—he needs just two more threes to reach 200 for his career.
- Trey Green (11.6 ppg), leading the A-10 in 3-pointers made per game (3.08) and third nationally in 3FG% (.468), with 80 threes already eighth on SLU’s single-season list.
- Ishan Sharma, second in the A-10 in 3FG% (.445, eighth nationally) and fifth in made threes per game (2.56).
The Billikens have spent six straight weeks in the AP Top 25, currently at No. 23.
Dayton, under ninth-year head coach Anthony Grant, enters with a respectable 18-9 record and strong defensive identity. The Flyers lead the A-10 in forcing turnovers (15.3 per game), steals (8.9 spg), and turnover margin (+3.3).
Standouts include:
- Javon Bennett (team-high 15.9 ppg), leading in assists (82 total) with 61 made threes and an impressive 90%+ from the free-throw line (94-104).
- De’Shayne Montgomery (14.5 ppg), second in the A-10 (10th nationally) with 65 steals.
- Amael L’Etang, the reigning A-10 co-Player of the Week after averaging 19.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in recent wins; he leads the team in rebounding (5.8 rpg) and is one of three double-figure scorers.
Dayton has won three straight overall and performs well at home.
The all-time series stands at 76 meetings, with Dayton holding a 44-31 edge. Saint Louis dominated the earlier matchup this season, winning 102-71 at home in Chaifetz Arena. However, the Flyers have owned UD Arena in recent years, winning the last 11 games there against SLU. The Billikens’ last win in Dayton came in 2014, and they’ve taken just three of 19 games at UD Arena since joining the A-10 in 2005-06.
For Saint Louis, this is the second-to-last road game of the regular season before a home-heavy finish (vs. Duquesne on Feb. 28 and Loyola Chicago on March 4), followed by a finale at George Mason on March 7. A win would further solidify their grip on the A-10 regular-season title race and keep the historic momentum rolling.
This promises to be an entertaining Atlantic 10 clash—SLU’s high-powered offense and depth against Dayton’s turnover-forcing defense and home-court advantage. Expect a battle of contrasting styles in what could be a pivotal late-season test for the ranked Billikens.
