The win was the first over a ranked team in nonconference play since 2000, when the Wildcats defeated Iowa 86-78 at Bramlage Coliseum. And it was the type of win K-State has lacked since it beat USC in 2006 in Las Vegas under former coach Bob Huggins.
The Flyers returned 10 of their top 11 scorers off last year's 27-6 team, which advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before they fell to Kansas. The Wildcats also defeated Boston in the first round of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Terriers are the unanimous pick to win the American East Conference.
"At the end of the year, those two wins are going to be big for us," Martin said.
It was K-State's guard play that led the charge, as Denis Clemente and Jacob Pullen combined to score 47. Pullen poured in 26 points, including a 12-of-14 performance from the free throw line to help secure the victory.
K-State (4-1), which jumped out to a 50-35 lead on a Clemente 3-pointer at the 13:57 mark, looked like it was going to cruise to the finish.
But the Flyers charged back. With K-State leading 68-61, Jamar Samuels was whistled for a contact technical foul. Dayton sank both free throws, and Chris Wright followed up a missed shot with a put-back dunk, capping an 8-0 run late in the second half to close the lead to 68-65.
But that was as close as Dayton would get. K-State answered back with four consecutive points, a Curtis Kelly dunk and a Pullen basket to give the Wildcats a seven-point cushion.
Dayton pulled to within four late, but Wally Judge followed up a Samuels miss from the free throw line with a tip-in to keep Dayton at arms length.
"That was worth a million bucks," Martin said. "That tip-in keeps it a two-possession game and it's a heck of a play of a game by a freshman. (Judge) played his rear-end off today."
Samuels added 12 points and seven rebounds, while Dominique Sutton scored eight and grabbed seven boards. Curtis Kelly also scored eight points while collecting six rebounds.
But at the end of the day, this win was about Pullen and Clemente, who had struggled in the tournament's first two games. The duo had combined to go 11-of-33 from the floor in Friday night's 86-74 loss to Ole Miss.
Sunday, the pair of guards bounced back, combining to go 12-of-26 from the floor and 6-of-11 from 3-point range.
"Jake, Denis made some plays for us," Martin said.
K-State returns to action on Saturday as the Wildcats travel to Kansas City, Mo., to face IUPUI at the Sprint Center.
