Dayton Upsets Saint Louis in A-10 Tournament Thriller

Flyers cap off frenetic final 20 seconds with late tip-in to advance

Mar. 14, 2026 at 7:53pm

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In a wild finish to the Atlantic-10 tournament semifinal, the Dayton Flyers knocked off the Saint Louis Billikens 70-69 on a last-second tip-in by Amaël L'Etang. The teams traded go-ahead 3-pointers in the final minute before L'Etang's game-winner with 0.3 seconds left.

Why it matters

This result could have major implications for the NCAA Tournament, as Saint Louis was likely already safely in the field as an at-large team, while Dayton's win gives them a chance to earn an automatic bid by winning the A-10 championship. A Dayton title could potentially come at the expense of a power conference team on the bubble.

The details

After Dayton's Keonte Jones hit two free throws to cut Saint Louis' lead to 66-65, the Billikens turned the ball over. Dayton's Javon Bennett missed a layup, but Jones got the rebound and kicked it out to Jacob Conner for a go-ahead 3-pointer. However, Saint Louis star Robbie Avila then buried a 3 of his own to regain the lead. But Dayton's Jordan Derkack drove the length of the floor and missed a spinning layup, only for L'Etang to tip in the game-winner.

  • With 0.3 seconds left, Amaël L'Etang tipped in the game-winning basket for Dayton.
  • In the final minute, the teams traded go-ahead 3-pointers.

The players

Amaël L'Etang

Dayton player who scored the game-winning tip-in with 0.3 seconds remaining.

Robbie Avila

Saint Louis star player who hit a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute.

Jordan Derkack

Dayton player who drove the length of the floor for a missed layup attempt before L'Etang's tip-in.

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What they’re saying

“That was one of the craziest finishes I've ever been a part of. Credit to our guys for staying composed and making the play at the end.”

— Anthony Grant, Dayton Head Coach

What’s next

Dayton will advance to the A-10 championship game on Sunday, where they will look to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Saint Louis is still likely to receive an at-large bid, but the loss could impact their seeding.

The takeaway

This thrilling finish showcases the excitement and unpredictability of conference tournament basketball, with the outcome potentially shaking up the NCAA Tournament landscape. Dayton proved its ability to win close games, while Saint Louis will look to rebound and secure its spot in the Big Dance.