Chris Johnson had a double-double and Chris Wright led a second-half surge that carried No. 21 Dayton to a 90-80 victory over Creighton Saturday afternoon in an opening matchup of teams that won 27 games apiece last season.

Dayton, ranked in the preseason poll for the first time since 1967, overcame a 10-point deficit in the first half and regrouped, pulling away in the closing minutes. The Flyers won their 21st in a row on their home floor, tying the school record.

Johnson scored 18 points and had a career-high 15 rebounds. Wright scored 25 points on 9-of-12 shooting and snapped the Flyers out of their lethargy in the second half with emphatic plays around the basket.

Creighton hasn't beaten a ranked team on the road since it upset Larry Bird's Indiana State team on Jan. 28, 1978. The Bluejays have dropped 25 straight against ranked teams on the road, falling to 2-63 in those games.

P'Allen Stinnett scored 18 points, leading five Bluejays in double figures.

Dayton returns four starters and 10 of the top 11 scorers from a team that also went 27-8 and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament. The Flyers are picked to win the Atlantic 10. They were taken to the limit by a team with a depleted front line.

Creighton returns three starters from a team that went 27-8 last season and reached the second round of the NIT. For the opener, the Bluejays were without senior forward Justin Carter, who slightly tore a knee ligament during an exhibition game and will miss several weeks.

Worse, forward Casey Harriman got the flu and didn't make the trip, leaving Creighton without two of its best front-line players. Junior college transfer Wayne Runnels carried the load, scoring 16 points inside.

The Flyers held impromptu dunk competition among themselves during their pregame shoot-around, bouncing balls off the floor and backboard before slamming them into the hoop. On other side of the floor, Creighton was running through traditional pass-and-shoot drills.

In the first half, some old-fashioned zone defense helped Creighton pull out to a 10-point lead. The Bluejays applied half-court pressure and took Dayton out of its flow. Stinnett, the top returning scorer, hit a pair of threes and made a four-point play as Creighton opened up a 35-25 lead.

Runnels scored 12 points as Creighton held on for a 46-41 halftime lead. The Bluejays shot 56 percent against Dayton's lethargic defense.

Wright took over the game and pulled the Flyers out of their doldrums at the start of the second half. He hit a three, a jumper and a pair of free throws, blocked a shot and drew three fouls in the opening 2:24, helping Dayton surge to a 53-50 lead.

It stayed close the rest of the way with one tie and three lead changes. Johnson's unguarded 3-pointer from the left corner made it 82-75 with 2:17 left, Dayton's biggest lead to that point. Wright's three-point play helped put it away.