AMHERST, N.Y. - Senior Casey Sheehan (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Athena) scored a team-high 26 points and collected seven rebounds and seven assists to lead the Daemen College men's basketball team to a 111-90 victory - the Wildcats' 23rd straight home win - over visiting Ohio Valley University tonight in opening round action of the 2013 Knee Center of Western New York Tip-Off Classic. It marked the 2013-14 season opener for both teams, played before another standing-room-only crowd at Daemen's Lumsden Gymnasium.

Daemen scored over 100 points in their first game of the season despite playing much of the game without senior point guard Mark Coppola (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville South). Coppola, who averaged 6.3 assists per game last season, started but was limited to just six minutes due to an injury. Despite missing its senior floor general, the Wildcats shot 50-percent (38-for-76) from the field and totaled 20 fast-break points. The hosts also held a 52-37 advantage in rebounds.

Gerald Beverly (Rochester, N.Y./Gates Chili), who pleased the crowd with several thunderous dunks and blocks, connected on 8-of-9 shots en route to his first double-double of the season. Beverly was two blocks shy of a triple-double as he recorded 20 points, 15 rebounds and eight blocks for the Wildcats. Senior Uchechi Ogbonna (Hicksville, N.Y./Erie CC) also added a double-double for Daemen - the first of his career - as he scored 17 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Juniors Jordan Greene (Fort Edward, N.Y./South Glens Falls) and Steve Carder (Champlain, N.Y. / North Country CC) both totaled 12 points while sophomore Supreme Hannah (Rochester, N.Y. / Eastridge HS) scored nine points and had a team-high eight assists off the bench for the Wildcats.
 
Senior Sequan Lawrence scored a game-high 28 points and had seven rebounds for the Fighting Scots.

The Wildcats came out strong and exploded for 10 unanswered points in the first three minutes of the game.  Daemen slowly but surely  made themselves a 19-point gap midway through the first half as they went on a 8-0 run. An alley-oop pass from Sheehan to Beverly capped the spurt and gave the hosts a 28-9 lead with 10:21 left before halftime.

The hosts put together a decisive lead over the next nine minutes. Highlights of the run included back-to-back three-pointers from Sheehan and Greene, a monstrous two-handed slam by Ogbonna and a steal from Sheehan that led to another fast-break layup for the Wildcats. Daemen took a 57-37 lead into the locker room after Sheehan banged home a running three-point attempt from 40 feet out at the buzzer.

A fast break lay-up by Ogbonna and three-pointer by Greene gave the Wildcats a 62-39 lead early in the second half. The Wildcats led the whole game and Ohio Valley came no closer than 14 points (91-77; 7:36) the rest of the way. Daemen outscored the Fighting Scots 20-13 over the final 7:03 and the Wildcats recorded their 100th point following a three-pointer from junior Kyle Clifford (West Seneca, N.Y./St. Francis) with 5:49 left to play.

Daemen forced 22 turnovers in the game, which resulted in 32 points for the hosts. The Fighting Scots connected on just 15-of-39 shots in the opening half, finishing 33-of-73 (45-percent) for the game and made just 7-of-19 three-point attempts. The hosts also held a 52-46 advantage in points in the paint.

There were 57 fouls called in the game in which Daemen went 26-40 (65-percent) from the free throw line while Ohio Valley shot 17-29 (59-percent).

In the other opening round game, Goldey-Beacom College posted a 59-48 victory over Roberts Wesleyan College. It marked the season-opener for both teams as well. Freshman guard Parris Ridgeway-Higgs scored a team-high 12 points and added seven rebounds to lead GBC. Junior forward Isaac Medeiros led the Redhawks with 14 points and 10 rebounds in a losing effort.

Tournament action continues tomorrow. Ohio Valley takes on Roberts Wesleyan College at 2 p.m., while Daemen faces Goldey-Beacom at 4 p.m. Both games take place at Lumsden Gymnasium.


2013 Knee Center of WNY Tip-Off Classic

First Round - Nov. 8
Goldey-Beacom 59, Roberts Wesleyan 48
Daemen 111, Ohio Valley 90

Second Round-Nov. 9
Roberts Wesleyan vs. Ohio Valley, 2 p.m.
Goldey- Beacom vs. Daemen, 4 p.m.