OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. – New York Institute of Technology connected on 56-percent of its shots en route to a 78-67 victory over over Daemen College here today in East Coast Conference men's basketball action.
It marked the regular-season finale for both teams. Daemen finished 18-10 overall and 13-7 in the ECC. The Wildcats finished third in the ECC standings. The host Bears finished 14-14 overall and 11-9 in the league and will now take part in the six-team ECC championship tournament. The ECC Tournament champion earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament.
Daemen's season will continue as well, as the Wildcats will take part in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) national championship tournament this week. Daemen is the top-seed in the eight-team tournament and will face eighth-seeded Indiana University South Bend in the quarterfinals Wednesday (Mar. 4). The tournament is being hosted by Penn State Fayette in Uniontown, Pa. A complete tournament preview will be posted Tuesday on the Daemen athletic website.
Senior Gerald Beverly (Rochester, N.Y./Gates Chili) paced the Wildcats with 26 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. It marked the 13th time this season Beverly has scored 20 or more points in a game. He has also now scored in double figures in 58-straight games. Senior Jordan Greene (Fort Edward, N.Y./South Glens Falls) canned five three-pointers and totaled 18 points for the Wildcats. He has now totaled a team-high 69 three-pointers on the year and stands just five triples shy of 200 for his career. Junior Supreme Hannah (Rochester, N.Y./Eastridge) added 10 points, six assists and two steals.
Senior Darian Hooker (Washington, D.C.), who entered the game averaging a Division II-best 28.4 points per game, led the Bears with 26 points and four assists. Junior Jon Feiler (St. James, N.Y.) added 16 points and nine rebounds.
Daemen scored the first nine points of the game, but NYIT responded with a 12-3 run and the game was tied at 12-12 eight minutes into the game. The Bears later took a 26-19 lead following a three-pointer by senior Jahleel Felix (Flushing, N.Y.) with 7:45 left before intermission, only to have the Wildcats reel off a 17-3 run over the next five minutes. A layup by Beverly with 2:18 left in the half capped the run and gave the Wildcats a 36-29 lead. NYIT closed the half with a 9-1 run and took a 38-37 lead into the break.
The Bears continued the run at the start of the second half and opened up a 52-42 lead seven minutes into the second half. The teams then traded baskets before Daemen cut the lead to seven points following a three-pointer by Greene, but the Bears countered with a 10-3 run and opened up their largest lead of the game, 64-50, following a three-pointer by junior Khalif Chaplin (Hempstead, N.Y.) with 7:34 left to play. NYIT maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
Daemen made 13-of-29 shots (45%) in the first half, but connected on just 10-of-26 shots (38%) over the final 20 minutes. The Bears shot 58-percent (15-for-26) in the second half and finished 29-of-52 (56%) from the field overall. The Bears posted a slim 31-26 edge in total rebounds, and the hosts also had a 28-26 advantage in points in the paint. NYIT's depth played a factor, as the hosts posted a 30-4 advantage in bench points.
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