BRIDGEPORT Conn. – Senior Devon Elliott (Brooklyn, N.Y.) drilled four three-pointers and totaled 25 points and classmate Muhammed Ahmed (Bronx, N.Y.) added 21 points to lead the University of Bridgeport to a 94-85 victory over Daemen College here today in East Coast Conference men's basketball action. Bridgeport, the preseason favorite to win the league, ran its winning streak to three-straight games and improved to 4-5 overall and 3-1 in the league. Daemen dropped to 3-5 overall and 1-2 in the ECC.
Daemen was once again led by senior Torrence Dyck (Rochester, N.Y./San Jacinto College) and junior Arif Mehmetaj (Jamaica, N.Y./SUNY Delhi). Dyck scored 18 second-half points and finished with 27 points and four assists. Mehmetaj, who scored a career-high 26 points in a win at Dowling College Friday night, totaled 25 points and a career-high six assists. Both Dyck and Mehmetaj have score 20 or more points six times this season. Dyck currently ranks second among the ECC scoring leaders (21.4 ppg), while Mehmetaj ranks third (20.6 ppg). Sophomore Nick Petrucelli (Hicksville, N.Y./Thomasville Prep) added 11 points and equaled his career-high for rebounds (7).
Five players scored in double figures for Bridgeport. Junior guard Montana Mayfield (Philadelphia, Pa.) contributed 13 points and eight assists, while senior guard Jesse Jones (Irvington, N.J.) netted 12 points in just 16 minutes off the bench.
The game, which featured 11 lead changes and eight ties, was a back-and-forth affair until the midway point of the second half when the Purple Knights took control with an 11-4 run. Bridgeport held a 63-60 lead when a jumper by Mayfield sparked the decisive run. Two free throws by Ahmed with 7:33 left to play capped the rally and gave the hosts a 75-64 lead. The hosts later took their largest lead of the game, 82-68, following a layup by freshman D'Vonne Trumbo (Franklinville, N.J.) two minutes later.
Daemen did not go without a fight and managed to cut the lead in half following a 10-3 spurt. A three-pointer by freshman Jay Sarkis (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Athena) with just over two minutes to play made the score 85-78. The Wildcats would come no closer, as the Purple Knights secured the win by hitting 9-of-10 free throws down the stretch.
Daemen shot 54.5-percent (30-for-55) from the field and connected on 7-of-19 three-pointers. The Wildcats also canned 18-of-24 from the charity stripe. Bridgeport shot 45-percent (29-for-64) from the field overall and drilled 10-of-22 three-pointers. The Purple Knights also connected on 26-of-32 free throws in the game. The hosts finished with a 38-30 edge in total rebounds. Bridgeport collected 14 offense rebounds, which the hosts converted into 15 second-chance points.
Daemen returns to action Jan. 2 when it takes on host Dominican College in opening round action of the 10th Annual James Clancy Memorial Tournament.
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