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The Main Event
The Main Event
Published by Swampy Meadows
02-11-2020
The Main Event

DAYTON (OH) -- The battle for first place in the Atlantic 10 is on and UD Arena is the place to be as the Rhode Island Rams, winners of 10 in a row, square off against the #6 University of Dayton Flyers, undefeated in their last 12 contests. Roni Toppin will be rockin’ her half Ram/half Flyer jersey, so it will literally be brother against brother as Obi and Jacob face each other for the first time in their respective college careers.

Here is how The Journal News, their hometown newspaper previewed the game:

https://www.lohud.com/story/sports/c...ay/4709539002/

The PA system may play Michael Buffer telling the crowd “Let’s get ready to rumble" but let’s face it: this is hardly Ali vs. Frazier we’re talkin’ about here. Obi is a consensus All-American and probable NBA lottery pick; Jacob comes off the bench as a frosh for a very good URI squad. That hasn’t prevented the two of them from talking beaucoup de trash in advance of tonight’s tilt. Who am I to let the facts get in the way of a good storyline tho, right?

Coupla things I learned about the Toppin brothers’ hometown of Ossining courtesy of UD Pride MB poster Moville is that Ossining is the home of Sing Sing Prison...and that he (Moville) used to work at the same paper eons ago.

“From the Swamp” attended a pre-game luncheon at Milano’s this afternoon with a bunch of familiar names from the UD Pride Message Board. Guys like rollo, cj, San Diego Flyer, Figgie123, NJFlyer71, Phinhead54, Shocka43, UDee79, Go-UD-Go, Clayton Flyer Fan, our esteemed leader Chris Rieman and CE80, who graciously picked up the tab were there to swap Flyer tales. The consensus was that we are all pulling for AG’s guys to get seeded into the Indy Region, which would send them to Cleveland for the First Round; that tonight’s matchup is the game of the year and that the Flyers will need Dwayne Cohill to contribute in order to shutdown the Rams’ potent backcourt of Fatts Russell and Jeff Dowtin.

After lunch I drove down Lowes to stop at The Deli to get something to drink. That joint still looks (and more importantly, smells!) exactly the same as it did when Mrs. Swampy lived across the street fortysomething years ago. When I told the woman working there that the place had not changed at all, she replied “You wouldn’t want it to, would you?” She then added that The Deli has been there for 108 years. What?!?

Now to “The Main Event.” I’m sitting next to Ted Hillary from the NCAA who is an “Official Observer.” It’ll be interesting to get his take on tonight’s proceedings. The new “stand until UD scores" tradition is in full effect and Mikesell allows the patrons to sit down less than a minute in. Obi dribbles in a turnaround and Crutch nails a three and it’s 7-0. Jalen then gets called for a questionable PF on Langevine and he misses both FTs. God knew.

Jalen buries another triple and it’s TO time for Coach Cox. An offensive foul gives the ball to UD and Trey feeds Obi for a jam and the building is up for grabs. It is now 12-0 at the under 16 media TO. Obi hits again and Ted Hillary from the NCAA says to me “It may be a shutout.” When Rodney connects on a three the score is 17-0.

Jacob Toppin checks in with 14:45 to go as does Dwayne Cohill. URI finally scores on a tip-in that may have actually gone off a UD player’s hand Crutcher with some good D prevents a layup; Obi with some even better defense blocks little bro’s first shot attempt. Jordy is a PF magnet. Rodney steals the rock and Ryan cleans up his miss. Dwayne Cohill for three! It’s 23-8 good guys and Jordy will shoot 2 FTs at the under 12 media TO. He makes both and then commits his 2nd PF. Langevine misses both again. Fatts Russell finally gets his name in the paper.

Dayton is finally in the bonus and Jalen makes a pair. Dwayne hits a sweet floater. Obi makes two FTs. Jalen makes a nice recovery and lays it in and the Flyers are up 37-22 with 4:35 remaining. Someone on the UD bench gets a T after a Rhody player rolls around on the floor with the ball. A quick three results in a 5 point play for the Rams. Jacob scores the hoop and the harm and can cut it to single digits but instead it’s free chicken for everyone. It's the Rams turn to get a bench T and Jalen makes both charity tosses plus it’s our apple.

Obi Toppin for three! 47-33. Jacob fouls Chatman and he makes them both. Obi with a careless foul on little bro and it’s 49-35 at the half.

Fatts doubles his offensive output from two to four. When he hits again the lead is down to 10. Mikesell feeds Trey for a layup. Jalen hits a floater. URI airballs a three, then Rodney makes a great feed to Obi for the flush, then outdoes himself with a behind-the-back pass to Trey. 57-39. Double techs on Rodney and Fatts??? Obi gets Jacob on Sports Center with a windmill dunk. Yet another T, this one on Rhode Island’s Martin leads to two more Cruthcer free throws. 61-42 with 13 minutes left.

Are the technical fouls done? Heck no! Turns out that last call was a double T on Trey and Martin. 7 technical fouls and Ted Hillary from the NCAA is shaking his head in disbelief. Ibi to Obi for two. Rodney fouls out on a clean block--you could hear the sound of hand hitting leather up in the 300s. The game has turned into a parade to the FT line and I’m losing interest. Dwayne nets another floater, breaks up a fast break and leaves to a warm ovation after 19 very productive minutes. With the clock running down Obi gets fouled on the iso and drains ‘em both and leaves to a rousing ovation as does Jalen. Your final:

UD 81

URI 67


After the game Obi said he was going to put Jacob on Sports Center and he hopes that he accomplished that, but he admitted that he had no idea it was his brother that was trailing on that play. Both Obi and AG gave Cohill props for bouncing back with a solid effort.

That’s it “From the Swamp.”
You can email me at: swampy@udpride.com
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