By COURTNEY RATKOWIAK
Mississippi’s Jarvis Summers, right, tries to drive around Dayton’s Kendall Pollard during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Skip Peterson)
Aaron Jones, Bobby Wehrli, Kendall Pollard
Mississippi’s Aaron Jones gets up over the defense of Dayton’s Bobby Wehrli (22) and Kendall Pollard (25) for a shot during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Skip Peterson)
LaDarious White, Bobby Wehrli
Mississippi’s LaDarious White shoots over Dayton’s Bobby Wehrli (22) dhring the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Skip Peterson)
Archie Miller
Dayton coach Archie Miller reacts to a play in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Mississippi on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Skip Peterson)
Andy Kennedy
Mississippi coach Andy Kennedy shouts to his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Dayton, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Skip Peterson)
Darrell Davis,Terence Smith
Dayton’s Darrell Davis tries to keep the ball away from Mississippi’s Terence Smith (3) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, in Dayton, Ohio. Dayton defeated Mississippi 78-74. (AP Photo/Skip Peterson)
Kendall Pollard, Jarvis Summers
Dayton’s Kendall Pollard (25) keeps the ball from Mississippi’s Jarvis Summers (32) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, in Dayton, Ohio. Dayton defeated Mississippi 78-74. (AP Photo/Skip Peterson)
Dyshawn Pierre
Dayton’s Dyshawn Pierre goes for a shot in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, in Dayton, Ohio. Dayton defeated Mississippi 78-74 and Pierre had 17 points. (AP Photo/Skip Peterson)
Jordan Sibert, Jarvis Summers
Dayton’s Jordan Sibert keeps a rebound away from Mississippi’s Jarvis Summers in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, in Dayton, Ohio. Dayton defeated Mississippi 78-74. (AP Photo/Skip Peterson)
Jarvis Summers, Bobby Wehrli, Darrell Davis
Mississippi’s Jarvis Summers (32) battles for the ball against Dayton’s Bobby Wehrli, top, and Darrell Davis, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, in Dayton, Ohio. Dayton defeated Mississippi 78-74. (AP Photo/Skip Peterson)
Kyle Davis, Sebastian Salz
Dayton’s Kyle Davis drives for a basket past Mississippi’s Sebastian Salz (11) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, in Dayton, Ohio. Dayton defeated Mississippi 78-74. (AP Photo/Skip Peterson)
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DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Dayton pulled out its 12th straight home win on Tuesday night, but not without a scare.
The Flyers had held a comfortable lead for most of the game, and led 75-65 with 1:42 left as the UD Arena crowd started to pack up.
But before the fans could leave, Ole Miss guard LaDarius White nailed a dunk and 3-pointer to narrow Dayton’s lead to three, 77-74, with 15.5 seconds left. The Flyers quickly huddled.
“(We said,) ‘Calm down,’ ” Jordan Sibert, who led Dayton with 20 points, said. “Keep our confidence, don’t lose faith and make our free throws.”
Ole Miss (8-4) fouled the Flyers’ Dyshawn Pierre on the next play and he made one of two free throws to help Dayton escape with a 78-74 win.
Dayton coach Archie Miller called the game one of his team’s more impressive non-conference wins, but wasn’t surprised by the outcome.
“We have some hardheaded, tough kids,” Miller said. “There are some guys in there who really have been in some major-league battles in games, and they aren’t going to run for cover if something happens.”
In addition to Sibert’s 20 points, Pierre added 17, Kendall Pollard had 12 and Kyle Davis 11 for Dayton.
The Flyers entered Tuesday’s game with an 11-game home win streak, dating to last season, and their hometown confidence was obvious for most of the game.
Kyle Davis put the Flyers up by 11 with back-to-back three-pointers with nine minutes left in the first half. On the next play, Ole Miss guard Stefan Moody tripped and lost possession. Sibert grabbed the ball, ran the length of the court and dunked it uncontested, nodding to the roaring crowd. The play capped a 15-3 first-half run and gave Dayton a 26-13 lead.
The Flyers relied on strong shooting and quick passes that left the Rebels defense a step behind. Dayton led by as much as 16 in the first half as the Rebels committed eight turnovers. The Flyers led 41-32 at the break and shot 6-of-9 from long range in the first half.
“Especially in our last three games, our defense has allowed the crowd to get into it, and the threes have started to drop,” Dayton coach Archie Miller said. “It’s one thing to go 40 percent (from long), but it’s another to bag six of them in the first half and give yourself the chance to go into halftime with a lead.”
Ole Miss pulled within seven points early in the second half and within six with nine minutes left, but every time the Rebels threatened, Dayton answered — including in the final minute.
TIP-INS
Dayton: Dayton is 4-1 against Power Five conference teams this year, with wins against Texas A&M, Boston College and Georgia Tech and a loss to Connecticut.
Ole Miss: Ole Miss, who led the nation in free throw percentage entering Tuesday’s game (78.3 percent), did not attempt a free throw in the first half. The Rebels shot 10 of 12 from the free throw line after halftime.
STAR POWER
Jarvis Summers, who missed the Rebels’ last game against Southeast Missouri because of back spasms, returned to peak form with a team-high 20 points. In Ole Miss’ previous three losses this season, Summers had scored just eight points.
STAT LINES
Entering Tuesday’s game, Dayton had allowed just 55.3 points per home game. Ole Miss’ 74 points were the most the Flyers allowed in a win this season.
UP NEXT
Dayton hosts Duquesne on Saturday.
Ole Miss hosts Austin Peay on Saturday.