LAS VEGAS, NV - The Daemen Wildcats saw their season-long three game win streak come to an end today at the Las Vegas Shootout as the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds, the host of this 10-team event, forced 26 Wildcat turnovers in a 70-58 final. The Sunbirds, ranked #24 in the latest NAIA I National Poll, improve to 8-3 while Daemen drops to 8-6.

"We battled another quality opponent for 40 minutes today, but our turnovers were just too much to overcome," said Daemen head coach Don Silveri. "Plus we got out-scored by 19 at the free throw line again."

After falling behind by double figures right out of the gate, Daemen rallied late in the first half and trailed by just four, 38-34, at intermission. Junior forward Jim Regan (Williamsville, NY/Nichols HS) scored 12 of his team-high 16 points in the period.

Daemen put together a nice run midway through the second half, cutting the lead to just one at 45-44 on a three-ball from senior Dom Mazzocchi (Geneva, NY/Finger Lakes CC). However, the Wildcat offense sputtered from there, producing just 14 points down the stretch. Daemen, already playing without the team's second leading scorer in guard Casey Sheehan (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena HS) who was out with an injury, was further hobbled after Mazzocchi fouled out with 8:36 to play on an offensive foul.

While Daemen was without one of its' top guns and lost one to fouls, Fresno Pacific regained the services of guard Donte Nicholas, an NAIA I All-American last season, who scored 19 points in his season debut. Nicholas did major damage driving to cup and was 9-for-14 from the charity stripe as he collected more free throw attempts than the entire Daemen team (13).

Mazzocchi finished with 12 points for Daemen, all of which came from deep as the senior connected on 4-of-5 from three-point range. Senior Devon Dawson (Buffalo, NY/St. Joe's HS) added 12 points of his own while sophomore Mark Coppola (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South HS) dished out a game-high six assists.

The Wildcats return to action tomorrow vs. Great Falls (MT) of NAIA I.