DAYTON, Ohio — The Dayton Flyers opened the 2026-27 men’s basketball season with a statement from their newest player. Freshman Aiden Derkack scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in his collegiate debut, leading Dayton to an 89-58 win over NJIT on Monday night at UD Arena, the University of Dayton’s athletics department reported.
Derkack became the first true freshman to record a double-double in his Flyer debut since UD Hall of Famer Chris Wright did it in 2007, according to the University of Dayton. Junior Amaël L’Etang added 20 points and 11 rebounds of his own — the ninth double-double of his career — and Dayton placed two players in double-double territory in a season opener for the first time since 2018, the university reported.
The game was decided early. Dayton led 47-23 at halftime, the Associated Press reported, and Derkack scored 11 of his points before the break and a team-high 10 more after it. Sophomore Tristian Ford, also making his collegiate debut, scored 13 points with four assists and no turnovers, according to the University of Dayton.
The Flyers controlled nearly every category, outshooting NJIT 47.7 percent to 34.5 percent, outrebounding the Highlanders 50-28, and outscoring them in the paint 44-24, the University of Dayton reported. NJIT’s own recap, from NJIT Athletics, credited a 14-2 Dayton run midway through the first half with seizing control of the game for good.
For a program that sold out its entire home schedule for a sixth straight season, the opener offered an early look at a reworked roster leaning on newcomers — and the newcomers delivered. Derkack’s debut drew the Wright comparison from the university itself, a standard few Dayton freshmen have met.
The opener also extended one of college basketball’s most durable home-court streaks. The University of Dayton announced last week that the Flyers have sold out the entire season for the sixth consecutive season, with the sellout streak at 94 games and on pace to reach 100 against Loyola (Md.) in December — a run that keeps UD Arena among the sport’s toughest road stops.
What happens next: Dayton stays home to host Northern Illinois on Saturday, the Associated Press reported, while NJIT travels to Iona on Thursday. The Flyers’ November home stand continues with Siena, Cincinnati and Central Michigan visiting UD Arena in the weeks ahead.