Redeemer (3-9) 28-44--72
Daemen (16-4) 56-56--112
AMHERST, N.Y. – Junior
Casey Sheehan (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Athena) scored 22 of his career-high 35 points in the first half to lead the Daemen College men's basketball team to a 112-72 victory over Redeemer University College today at Lumsden Gymnasium. Sheehan becomes the first Daemen player to score 30 points in a game since
Dom Mazzocchi scored 31 in a 66-61 victory over Houghton College last February.
It marked the seventh time this season Daemen has scored 100 or more points in a game.
Daemen, which is ranked fourth nationally in the latest United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division I poll, improved to 16-4 on the year. The Wildcats remained unbeaten at home this year (11-0) and ran their home winning streak to 21 games dating back to last season. Redeemer of the Ontario University Athletics Association dropped to 3-9.
Sheehan, who also totaled six assists and two steals, connected on 13-of-16 shots in the game. Sophomore
Gerald Beverly (Rochester, N.Y./Gates Chili) helped the Daemen cause with 15 points, seven rebounds and four blocks, while sophomore
Jordan Greene (Fort Edward, N.Y./South Glens Falls) connected on 3-of-5 three-pointers and totaled 13 points.
Mark Coppola (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville South) dished out seven assists and also registered four steals.
Junior Calvin Turnbull led the Royals with 16 points.
Daemen's starting five was perfect at the start of the game, as the Wildcats connected on their first 13 shots over the first 5:34 en route to a 29-7 lead. Sheehan scored 15 points during the game-opening run, which featured three alley-oop dunks by Beverly (all set up by Sheehan) and three-point bombs from Sheehan and Greene (2).
The teams traded baskets for the next five minutes and Daemen held a 22-point lead, 41-19, when the hosts put together an 11-5 run. Two free throws by Sheehan capped the spurt and gave the Wildcats a 52-24 advantage with 5:25 left before halftime. Daemen took its largest lead of the half, 56-25, following two free throws by junior
Alvin Satram (Port Richey, Fla./Pasco-Hernando CC) with 2:19 left before the break, and the Wildcats took a 56-28 lead into intermission.
Daemen held a 67-39 lead early in the second half when the Wildcats put together a 17-3 run. A corner three-pointer by junior
Troy Nowak (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) with 11:08 left to play capped the run and gave the hosts an 84-42 lead. The Royals came no closer than 36 points the rest of the way.
The Wildcats shot a season-high 60-percent (40-67) overall and connected on 10-of-28 three-pointers. The Wildcats finished with a 46-34 edge in points in the paint. Daemen also forced the Royals into 22 turnovers, which the hosts converted into a 29-14 advantage in points off turnovers. The Royals shot just 40-percent (27-68) from the field overall and made just 9-of-26 from behind and arc.
Daemen next heads to south Florida to take part in the Ave Maria University Holiday Classic. The Wildcats will play three games in three days, beginning with a Jan. 3 date with Ohio Mid-Western College. Game time is 5 p.m.
