A gritty High Point University men's basketball team battled for the entire game before falling 68-54 on the road against the Dayton Flyers at the UD Arena.

The Panthers (3-4), who were playing their third straight road game and sixth of the first seven games away from home this season, kept things interesting against a bigger Dayton squad (6-1)that remained a perfect 5-0 at home this season.

Senior Mike Jefferson scored 18 points including two treys and a perfect 8-of-8 performance from the free throw line to lead High Point. Arizona Reid tallied his fourth double-double of the season with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Chris Wright paced the Flyers with a 16 point, 13 rebound double-double of his own while UD leading scorer Brian Roberts was held to just seven points for the game.

After trading baskets to start the game, Dayton grabbed the early momentum behind a 15-3 run putting them ahead 17-6. The Flyers maintained a near double-digit lead for most of the opening half with HPU getting as close as six points late in the frame. UD closed with the final five points of the half for a 36-25 advantage at the break.

The Flyers used a distinct height advantage to control the play on the glass earning a 24-11 halftime edge in rebounding including 11 offensive boards that resulted in a 16-5 edge in second chance points. Wright had 10 points and 10 rebounds in the first half for Dayton. Jefferson led the Panthers with 10 points at the break while Reid was held to just four points and five rebounds by constant Flyer double-teaming.

The second half was filled with runs from each squad. Dayton made the first surge using an 8-0 run early in the stanza to earn a 50-33 lead. High Point cut into the deficit with a 6-0 run which UD answered by scoring six straight points of its own.

A determined Panther squad continued to battle down the stretch and even won the battle of the boards in the second half including nine from Reid. HPU held a 7-4 edge on the offensive glass and did not allow a second chance point to the Flyers in the final 20 minutes of action.

High Point played tonight without the services of 6-11 starting center Cruz Daniels, who remained back in High Point after suffering an injury late in the game at Longwood last weekend.

"This was a great opportunity for our program," said HPU head coach Bart Lundy. "This is a great college basketball atmosphere and Dayton is a very athletic team. I was proud of our effort especially in the second half even though we were shorthanded. This early stretch has been tough on us with injuries and having to play on the road and we are definitely looking forward to returning to the Millis Center this weekend."

The Panthers now return home to the friendly confines of the Millis Athletic Center for a three-game home stand beginning on Saturday at 7 p.m. versus Johnson & Wales College.