In an uncharacteristic display of emotion, Dayton Flyers head coach Anthony Grant erupted on officials during his team’s second-round NIT matchup against Chattanooga. The usually composed Grant stormed onto the court with just over two minutes remaining, requiring physical restraint from assistant coaches as the Flyers trailed by eight points.
The flashpoint came when Chattanooga’s Makai Richards appeared to grab Dayton guard Javon Bennett around the neck during a loose ball situation. Officials not only missed the apparent foul on Richards but quickly whistled Dayton for a separate infraction, sending Grant into a rage that resulted in a technical foul and effectively sealed the Flyers’ fate.
The Boiling Point
The contentious sequence unfolded with Dayton trailing 75-67, desperate for momentum. As Bennett and Richards scrambled for a loose ball, what appeared to be a clear foul against Chattanooga went uncalled. Moments later, officials whistled Dayton for a foul, triggering Grant’s explosive reaction.
Dayton coach Anthony Grant lost his mind at the end of the Flyers NIT loss against Chattanooga. This is not something we normally see from the mild mannered coach.#GoFlyerspic.twitter.com/4O2DSiLOvx
— Chatterbox Sports (@CBoxSports) March 22, 2025
Assistant coaches Ricardo Greer and Jermaine Henderson physically restrained their head coach as he vehemently protested the call. The technical foul resulted in three successful free throws for Chattanooga, extending their lead to 11 points and effectively ending Dayton’s comeback hopes in the 87-72 defeat.
Season-Ending Disappointment
The loss marked a bitter conclusion to Dayton’s season, particularly disappointing after the team narrowly missed an NCAA Tournament berth. Throughout the campaign, the Flyers had demonstrated the resilience and competitive spirit characteristic of Grant’s leadership, making the abrupt NIT elimination all the more difficult to swallow.
The passionate support Grant showed for his players represented an exceptional moment of coach emotion because he typically remained calm during regular games. This displayed the tremendous stakes and passion of playoff matchups. This incident demonstrates how official calls control team outcomes during game-changing moments.
The game featured Chattanooga point leader Honor Huff, who scored 26 points, and Dayton standout Nate Santos, who scored 18 points and had six rebounds. Chattanooga outperformed Dayton in field goal efficiency at 67.3% compared to 52.5%.
Chattanooga’s ability to get to the free-throw line proved decisive, with a free-throw rate of 42.9% versus Dayton’s meager 16.9%. Enoch Cheeks and Javon Bennett each contributed 15 points for the Flyers, with Malachi Smith adding 13 points, seven assists, and two steals in the losing effort.
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The tense NIT battle from this exciting contest will be remembered for Coach Grant’s unusual display of frustration. Chattanooga progresses in the tournament, while Dayton must reorganize to use this losing moment as a motivation for next season.
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