UNIONTOWN, Pa. – Gerald Beverly's (Rochester, N.Y./Gates Chili) decorated four-year career at Daemen College is now complete with the one thing that has eluded him, a national championship.

Beverly and his teammates checked that one item off their bucket list in a big way this afternoon, as the top-seeded Wildcats cruised a 77-53 victory over third-seeded Rochester College in the championship game of the 2015 United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division 1 Tournament.

Daemen closed out the year with a 21-10 record and its first USCAA title in three tries. Rochester, which defeated the Wildcats in the 2013 title game, finished 22-11. Rochester, which entered the game ranked first among USCAA teams in fewest points allowed per game (56.9), surrendered 75 or more points for just the fourth time this season.

Complete tournament results and box scores can be found HERE.

"From the opening play this was a thing of beauty," said first-year Daemen head coach Mike MacDonald. "We (the coaches) just got out of the way and let them play. Everyone contributed and the result speaks for itself."

Beverly, the USCAA Division 1 Player of the Year and the tournament's Most Valuable Player, connected on 9-of-11 shots and totaled 19 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. The eight rebounds give him 1,004 for his career and makes him just the second player in program history to total 1,000 career rebounds. The 19 points left him one point shy of 1,800 for his career and gives him 620 for the season, which ranks as the fourth most in one season in program history. Beverly also scored in double figures for the 61st-straight game.

"There have been a lot of great players to wear a Daemen uniform over the years, but I can't think of anyone better than Gerald," said MacDonald. "He has such an impact on the game. And you know what, as good a player as he is, he is an even better person."

While Beverly picked up the hardware, today's win was certainly a team effort, as five players scored in double figures. Sophomore Jesse Lalka (Tonawanda, N.Y./Tonawanda) went 5-of-7 from downtown and totaled a career-high 16 points and five rebounds off the bench. Senior Kyle Clifford (West Seneca, N.Y./St. Francis), who tied the tournament record for three-pointers in a game (7) during Daemen's semifinal win, drilled three more triples today and contributed 14 points, five rebounds, six assists and four steals. Junior Supreme Hannah (Rochester, N.Y./Eastridge) flirted with a triple double and finished with 11 points, nine assists and six rebounds, while senior Jordan Greene (Fort Edward, N.Y./South Glens Falls) added 10 points and five assists. Greene drained two three-pointers and closed out the year with a team-high 75 triples. He also finished with 201 career three-pointers, making him just the fourth player in program history to register 200 or more three-pointers. He recorded at least one three-pointer in every game this season and closed out his career with a streak of 42-straight games with at least one three-pointer.

Clifford and Greene were both named to the all-tournament team.

Rochester, which boasted three USCAA All-America selections in its starting lineup, was led by Nick Tatu's (Clarkston, Mich.) 16 points. Rochester holds duel membership in the USCAA and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (Division II).

Daemen came out firing and drilled four three-pointers over the first six minutes of the game and opened up a 20-7 lead after Lalka hit his second triple of the run with 13:53 left before halftime. Rochester responded with five unanswered points that cut the lead to eight points, 20-12, with 13 minutes left, only to have the Wildcats take control with a 20-4 run over the next 10 minutes. A layup by Hannah with 3:34 left before intermission capped the run and gave the Wildcats their largest lead of the half, 40-16. The Wildcats took a 43-21 lead into the break.

The Wildcats secured the win by outscoring the Warriors 17-8 over the first 5:36 of the second half. A monster dunk by Beverly, off a nice feed from Hannah, capped the run and gave Daemen a 60-29 lead. The lead later ballooned to 36-points, 65-29, following a layup by Hannah with 11:06 left. The Wildcats maintained a comfortable lead the rest of the game.

"When I took this job I met with all the players and to a man they all said their top goal was to win nationals," said MacDonald. "We went through a lot of adversity during the year and had to reinvent ourselves after Torrence (Dyck) and Aaron (Davis) were lost to injuries last month. Too the team's credit they came together and kept getting better. I am just sorry the season is over because we have been playing some good basketball lately despite all the obstacles."

Daemen shot 59-percent (17-for-29) in the first half and connect on 7-of-14 three-pointers during the first 20 minutes. The Wildcats finished 31-for-57 (54%) from the field overall and 11-for-23 from downtown. Rochester made just 1-of-9 three-point attempts in the first half and finished 9-for-27 overall from the field in the first half. The Warriors finished 21-for-55 overall for the game and made just 5-of-21 from behind the arc. The Wildcats dominated the glass (41-29) and posted a 32-22 advantage in points in the paint. Daemen collected 17 offensive rebounds and posted a 29-8 edge in second-chance points. The Wildcats recorded 23 assists, which ties for the most in a game this season.

The game marked the final game for Beverly, Greene, Clifford and fellow seniors Aaron Davis (North Tonawanda, N.Y./North Tonawada) and Tom Escott (Amherst, N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute).

"What a great way for the seniors to go out," said MacDonald. "They certainly deserved it."

Director of Athletics Bridget Niland weighed in on today's performance as well, saying "The championship won today is a credit to the student-athletes and coaches.  Their resilient and total team approach inspires all of us who are working hard to establish a first-class NCAA Division II program here at Daemen."

Daemen is a Division II provisional member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the East Coast Conference (ECC). Daemen is a member of the USCAA to ensure its student-athletes the chance at individual awards, and also its teams the chance at competing in postseason play.  The Wildcats are not yet eligible for postseason opportunities within the ECC or NCAA Division II.

POST-GAME NOTES: Daemen has reached 20 wins for the fourth-straight season and ninth time over the past 13 seasons…the Wildcats have posted an 89-34 record (.724) over the past four years…the 89 wins are the most in program history over a four-year stretch…Gerald Beverly closed out his outstanding career ranked third in games played (120), fifth in career points (1,799), second in career rebounds (1,004) and first in career blocked shots (330)…Beverly totaled 373 rebounds this season which ranks as the second most in one season by a Daemen player…he totaled 110 blocks this season and 221 rejections over the past two seasons…Jordan Greene finished his career with 1,090 points and ranked fourth in both games played (119) and career three-pointers made (201).

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