DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - #5 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University scored an 84-62 win over the visiting Daemen Wildcats tonight before 592 fans at ERAU's ICI Center in the opening round of the Daytona Mitsubishi Shootout. Today's showdown was a rematch of the championship game of last season's shootout; a game won by the Wildcats 78-73.
This year's matchup proved to be very different than last season's however. The Eagles raced out to a 7-0 lead just 1:41 into the contest, prompting a quick timeout from Daemen coach Don Silveri. The Wildcats responded following the timeout and went on a 9-4 run to cut the Eagle advantage to 13-9. From there, it was all Eagles who went on to shoot 55% (17-31) from the field in the opening half, en route to a commanding 48-25 edge at the intermission.
6'8" David Butler gave the Wildcats all they could handle inside. The Eagle big man shot 9-of-13 from the field and pumped in a game-high 24 points in just 20 minutes of action. He also contributed five boards, two blocks and two steals.
Freshman guard
Casey Sheehan (Rochester, NY) was the lone Wildcat to reach double figures with 12 points. Sheehan left the game in the second half after he was undercut attempting to catch a high inbounds pass. He was sent tumbling to the floor and was forced to leave with a laceration to his head which later received four stitches.
The Wildcats managed to shoot just 31% (19-61) from the floor, including a dreary 8-for-29 (28%) showing in the opening stanza. In addition to the poor shooting, Daemen was out-rebounded by the Eagles 51-34.
Ray Graham chipped in with 15 points and six rebounds for the highly touted Eagles, who return four starters after making a run to the NAIA II Elite 8 last season.
For Daemen, senior forward
Khorri Silcott (Brooklyn, NY) scored nine points to go with four boards, as did junior
Chandler Williams (Buffalo, NY).
In some positive news for the Wildcats, sophomore
Jim Regan (Williamsville, NY) returned to the lineup after missing the team's first two games due to illness. Regan, the team's leading returning scorer, scored four points and had one rebound in 18 minutes of action.
The Wildcats next take on the Central Methodist Runnin' Eagles in tomorrow's consolation game. CMU fell in the tournament's opening game to Faulkner University, 78-66. Game time is slated for 5pm tomorrow.
