Roberts Wesleyan 38-30-4—72 (2-2, 0-1 ECC)

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - They had to work overtime to get it, but the Daemen College men's basketball team earned its first-ever East Coast Conference victory following a 77-72 triumph over rival Roberts Wesleyan College here tonight.

Daemen, which is in Candidacy Year Two of the NCAA Division II membership process, recored its second-straight win and improved to 4-2 overall and 1-0 in the ECC. RWC, which is in Candidacy Year Three of the NCAA Division II membership process, dropped to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the league. Daemen has now prevailed in the last five meetings between the two long-time rivals and owns a 25-11 advantage in the all-time series.

Four players reached double figures in points for Daemen. Junior Jordan Greene (Fort Edward, N.Y./South Glens Falls) canned three three-pointers and totaled 19 points off the bench to lead the way. Senior Casey Sheehan (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Athena) battled through a tough shooting night and finished with 15 points, six rebounds, five assists and six steals. Junior forward Gerald Beverly (Rochester, N.Y./Gates Chili) played just 22 minutes due to foul trouble, but still managed to register a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. He also registered three blocks and has now recorded at least one block in 11-straight and 20 of his last 21 games dating back to last season.  Senior Kadeem Johnson (Syracuse, N.Y./Henninger) made his first start of the season and finished with 10 points and three steals in 34 minutes. Senior point guard Mark Coppola (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville South) saw his first action since the season opener and totaled seven points and five assists in 30 minutes off the bench.

Junior Isacc Medeiros (Johnston, R.I.) connected on 8-of-17 shots and paced the Redhawks with 23 points and 18 rebounds. Medeiros, who entered the game averaging 21.7 points and a league-best 14.0 rebounds per game, was held scoreless over the final 17:30 of regulation and all five minutes of overtime. Senior Patrick Downer (Bronx, N.Y.) canned four three-pointers and netted 19 points for RWC, while sophomore Tyrel Dixon (Tobyhanna, Pa.) added 15 points and 16 rebounds.

The teams entered overtime tied at 68 and the Wildcats opened the scoring when Johnson drove the baseline and scored. The Redhawks turned the ball over on their next possession and Beverly swished a jumper from the free throw line to give the visitors a 72-68 lead. The teams then traded free throws before Coppola drove the lane and converted a layup with 1:36 left in overtime for a 75-69 Daemen lead. The Wildcats eventually built a 77-69 lead before the hosts drained a three-pointer with 10 seconds left to make it 77-72. Daemen connected on 3-of-6 shots in the extra session, while the hosts went just 1-for-8 (1-for-5 from three-point land) and committed three turnovers.

RWC held a 46-41 lead three minutes into the second half, but the Wildcats outscored the Redhawks 16-0 over the next six minutes. Johnson scored six of his 10 points during the run and his two free throws with 10:48 to play capped the rally and gave the Wildcats a 57-46 lead.

Neither team scored over the next four minutes and Daemen still held a double-digit lead (60-50) with just over five minutes remaining when the Redhawks began their comeback. Two free throws by Dixon cut the lead to eight, and then Downer drained a three-pointer to cut the lead to five, 60-55, with 4:33 left. The teams traded baskets over the next two and half minutes and Daemen held a 67-63 lead when freshman Jordan McBride (Mechanicsville, N.Y.) canned a three-pointer for the Redhawks with 1:44 left. Beverly split a pair of free throws with 1:10 left, and a layup by Dixon with 32 seconds left tied the game at 68. Sheehan's game-winner just before the final horn was off the mark. 

Daemen held the lead for nearly 14 minutes in a tightly played first half. A three-pointer by Greene with 11:45 left before intermission gave the Wildcats an 18-13 lead, and the teams traded baskets for the next seven minutes. Daemen took a 28-24 lead following a bucket by junior Steve Carder (Champlain, N.Y./North Country CC) with just under six minutes left in the half, and the score remained that way until the Redhawks strung together six-straight points for a 30-28 lead. A three-point play by Medeiros with 4:20 left before halftime capped the run. RWC held a 38-37 lead before Greene drained a three-pointer with six seconds left before the break and the Wildcats took a 40-38 lead into intermission.

Both teams struggled from the floor, as Daemen shot 40-percent (28-70) and the Redhawks made just 33-percent (24-72) of their shots. The Wildcats were just 3-of-16 from three-point land, while RWC attempted 27 three-pointers and made just eight.

The Wildcats posted a commanding 40-28 advantage in points in the paint, and also held a 34-6 edge in bench points. RWC committed 23 turnovers, which Daemen converted into 20 points. RWC finished with a 50-40 edge in rebounding. The teams were whistled for 44 fouls and they combined to take 59 free throws. Daemen went 18-for-35 from the charity stripe, while RWC was 16-for-24.

Daemen is idle until Dec. 13 when it travels to LIU- Post for an ECC game.

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