AMHERST,  N.Y. – The Daemen College men's basketball team raced to a 108-67 victory over Niagara College (Ont.) it the Widcat's 2012-13 season opener before a near capacity crowd tonight at DC's Lumsden Gymnasium.

An 18-2 run over the final five minutes of the first half, and an 18-3 run over the first four minutes of the second half secured the win for the host Wildcats.

Six players scored in double figures for the Wildcats. Sophomore Gerald Beverly (Rochester, N.Y./Gates Chili HS) totaled 17 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks in just 17 minutes of action. Senior Jim Regan (Williamsville, N.Y./Nichols) and junior Kadeem Johnson (Syracuse, N.Y./Henninger HS) both scored 16 points, while Johnson added eight rebounds.  Junior Casey Sheehan (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Athena HS) helped the Daemen cause with 11 points, six assists and three steals,  while classmate Alvin Satram (New Port Richey, Fla./Pasco-Hernando CC) added 12 points and four steals off the bench.

Junior Jimmy Bilenga (Hamilton, Ont.) scored 19 points for Niagara, while sophomore Alex Campbell (Brampton, Ont.) added 15 points and seven rebounds.

Daemen, which never trailed in the game, jumped out to an early 12-2 lead, before the Knights answered with an 8-2 spurt and cut the lead to four points following a three-pointer by Campbell with 15:51 left before intermission. Daemen pushed the lead back to nine points, 21-12, following a three-point play by Johnson with 13:41 left in the half, and the hosts held a 28-15 lead at the midway point of the first half.

The Wildcats held a 34-23 lead with just over five minutes left before halftime, when a triple by junior Mark Coppola (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville South HS) sparked the Wildcats on an 11-0 run. A fast-break layup by Regan with 3:27 left in the half capped the run and gave the hosts a 45-23 lead. Daemen took a 52-25 lead into the break.

Daemen stormed out of the locker room and outscored the Knights 18-3 over the first four minutes of the second half to put the game out of reach. A three-point play by Regan capped the run and gave Daemen a 70-28 lead.

Daemen shot 51-percent from the field (44-87) and out-rebounded the Knights 60-48 for the game. The Wildcats held the Knights to just 30-percent (24-80) from the field also forced 21 turnovers.

Daemen returns to action Friday (10/26) when it hosts Fleming College at 7:30 p.m.