AMHERST, N.Y. - The high-octane Daemen College men's basketball team returns to action this weekend when it hosts the Knee Center of Western New York Tip-Off Classic. The two-day tournament takes place Friday and Saturday.

Daemen will tipoff against the University of Toronto Friday at 8 p.m., and face Western Ontario University Saturday at 4 p.m.

Two games not involving the Wildcats will also take place in DC's Lumsden Gymnasium. Point Park University will take on Western Ontario Friday at 4 p.m., while Toronto will face Point Park Saturday at 2 p.m.

Tickets for this weekend's games can be purchased at the Lumsden Gymnasium entrance for $5 per day; visiting students and senior citizens who provide valid identification will be charged $2 per day, and children under the age of 12 are admitted free of charge.

Additionally, this weekend's games provide an outlet for Daemen's Hoops for Hunger event. Representatives from Daemen's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will be on hand to collect non-perishable food donations which will be donated to the Western New York Food Pantry. All spectators are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to the game for donation, and monetary donations will be accepted as well.

Daemen (3-0) rolled to season-opening wins over Niagara College (Ont.) and Fleming College (Ont.) last week. The Wildcats reached triple digits in scoring in each of the three wins, including a 117-point effort in a rout of Fleming. Daemen enters this weekend's action averaging 110 points per game. Defensive pressure has also been a key to success, as Daemen has forced 78 turnovers, an average of 26 per game.

Seven players are averaging in double figures. Junior guard Casey Sheehan (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) scored 24 points in the 117-52 win over Fleming and is averaging a team-high 15.3 points. He is also contributing 4.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists, and leads the team in steals with nine. However, it looks as if the Wildcats will be without Sheehan's services this weekend after the dynamic playmaker suffered an MCL injury in practice that's expected to sideline him for up to three weeks.

Sophomore forward Gerald Beverly (Rochester, NY/Gates Chili) recorded a double-double in the first two games of the season and is averaging 13 points and 7.7 rebounds despite averaging just 14 minutes a game. Steady point guard Mark Coppola (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) is averaging a team-high 6.3 assists.

Senior Jim Regan (Williamsville, NY/Nichols) has connected 18-of-25 shots from the field and is averaging 13 points and 4.7 rebounds, while junior Kadeem Johnson (Syracuse, NY/Henninger) has made 15-of-23 shots and is averaging 11.3 points and a team-high 8.7 rebounds. Bench support has come in the form of sophomore Jordan Greene (Fort Edward, NY/South Glems Falls) and junior college transfer Alvin Satram (New port Richey, FL/Pasco-Hernando CC). Greene scored a career-high 18 points in a 104-61 win over Fleming and is averaging 13 points. Satram has drained a team-high eight three-pointers and is averaging 11 .3 points.

Daemen came away with a pair of close wins over Toronto and Western Ontario last year. The Wildcats opened their season with a 68-65 win over Toronto, and later recorded a 54-53 win over Western Ontario during the Daemen Holiday Classic. Regan had 16 points in the win over Toronto, and added a team-high 15 points in the win over Western Ontario.

Toronto concludes its 11-game preseason schedule this weekend. The Varsity Blues have won six of their first nine preseason games, including a 76-71 victory over NCAA Division II member Shippensburg University.

Western Ontario also concludes its preseason schedule this weekend. The Mustangs have dropped all six of their previous preseason games, and are coming off a 76-73 loss to NCAA Division II member Ashland University.

In addition to this weekend's games, the Daemen College men's basketball program has planned its' first-ever reunion for all former team members to be held this weekend. All former Daemen College men's basketball players are invited to the team's games this weekend.

There will be a ceremony at halftime of the game on Saturday, Nov. 3 honoring all former Daemen College men's basketball players, and specifically introducing the 2003-2004 team that advanced to the Elite 8 of the NAIA Division II National Tournament.

After the game on Saturday, all men's basketball alums are invited to join the coaching staff at the Port of Call Homecoming Feast free of charge being held at the Wick Center Dining Room on campus from 6pm-9pm. Additional guests may purchase tickets at the door for $8.75.


Knee Center of Western New York Classic (Men)
(all games played at Lumsden Gymnasium, Amherst, N.Y.)

Friday, Nov. 2
Park Point vs. Western Ontario, 4 p.m.
Toronto vs. Daemen, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 3
Park Point vs. Toronto, 2 p.m.
Western Ontario vs. Daemen, 4 p.m.