GAME INFORMATION
Game No. 16
Daemen Wildcats (9-6, 3-2 ECC) vs. LIU Post Pioneers (6-9, 4-1 ECC)
Friday, Jan. 12 | 8 p.m.
Amherst, N.Y. | Lumsden Gymnasium
Game No. 17
Daemen Wildcats (9-6, 3-2 ECC) vs. NYIT Bears (3-13, 1-4 ECC)
Sunday, Jan. 14 | 3 p.m.
Amherst, N.Y. | Lumsden Gymnasium
GAME LINKS - VS. LIU POST
Live Stats
Watch Live on the ECC Network
Game Day
GAME LINKS - VS. NYIT
Live Stats
Watch Live on the ECC Network
Game Day
JUMP BALL
Daemen completes a brief three-game homestand by hosting LIU Post and NYIT for East Coast Conference clashes at Lumsden Gymnasium this weekend. The Wildcats have won four straight games, tied for the longest active streak in the ECC, and they enter the weekend in a tie for fourth place in the league standings. Friday's opponent, LIU Post, sits just ahead of Daemen with a 4-1 ECC record and a four-game conference winning streak. NYIT, which plays at Roberts Wesleyan on Friday, has dropped 12 of their last 13 outings.
RETURN OF THE MAC
Mike MacDonald returns to the bench for his fourth season as Daemen's head coach, and his 21st season overall as a collegiate head coach...in his first three seasons roaming the Daemen sidelines, MacDonald led the Wildcats to a 59-29 overall record...the Wildcats have won at least 19 games in each of MacDonald's three seasons, and the team's 59 victories in that span are the second most among all NCAA Division II programs in New York State...before coming to Daemen, MacDonald transformed the Division III program at Medaille into a perennial power, averaging 18 wins per season and advancing to the postseason six times in his eight years as head coach...MacDonald made his head coaching debut at the Division I level, leading the program at Canisius from 1997-2006...while there, MacDonald's teams racked up 108 wins making him the third all-time winningest coach in the program's history...the longtime bench boss opened the 2017-18 season with a career record of 315-255.
IT'S A HARDWOOD LIFE
Mike MacDonald and his family were recently profiled in a USA Today article which detailed the family's love affair with basketball, and the intricacies of having the husband/father coaching collegiately and four sons who play the game, including two at the college level. Written by Buffalo native Erik Brady, CLICK HERE to read the full story.
REDBAND FOR THREE
Redshirt sophomore forward Jeff Redband established himself as one of the preeminent three-point shooters in the ECC last season. For the season, Redband canned 68-of-151 three-point attempts becoming the first Daemen freshman with more than 50 triples since Brian Montanaro had 70 in 2002-03. A four-time ECC Rookie of the Week honoree, Redband ranked third among all ECC players in total three-point baskets, and fifth in three-point field percentage (.450). He made at least one three-pointer in 23 games, and knocked down multiple threes in 17 contests. Appearing in all 28 games while making 27 starts, Redband contributed 10.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Redband shook off a slow start to the 2017-18 season (three three-pointers in first four games) to shoot 55.9 percent from long distance (19-for-34) over a six-game stretch from late November to mid December. Redband scored a season-high 19 points in Daemen's 80-56 win over District of Columbia on Jan. 10. For the season, he is contributing 11.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, and he presently ranks fourth in the ECC in three-point field goals (32).
SHINING STAR-KIS
Redshirt sophomore guard Jay Sarkis has made a successful return to the lineup after missing all of last season with an injury. Sarkis, who quarterbacked the Wildcats to an appearance in the ECC Tournament finals as a freshman in 2015-16, was a four-time ECC Rookie of the Week selection as he appeared in all 29 games while making 26 starts, and averaging 8.5 points and 2.3 assists per game that season. Through the first 15 games this season, Sarkis is producing 12.1 points and a team-best 3.7 assists per game. He scored a career-high 20 points in Daemen's 79-73 win over Wilmington on Nov. 18, and dished out a career-high seven assists in a Jan. 10 win over District of Columbia, one of his five games this season with five or more assists. Sarkis, who has made at least one three-pointer in 20 consecutive games, ranks among the ECC leaders in minutes per game (33.9 - 3rd), three-point field goal percentage (43.8 - 7th), three-point field goals (35 - 2nd), free throw percentage (83.8 - 7th) and total assists (55 - 3rd).
GARV-ELOUS
With injuries to key backcourt players in each of the last two seasons, Daemen has become reliant on the steady play of junior guard Darius Garvin who appeared in 58 of a possible 59 games while making 40 starts in his freshman and sophomore seasons. Last season, Garvin upped his statistical numbers in nearly every category, including minutes per game (from 17.9 as a freshman to 27.4 as a sophomore), points per game (from 4.8 to 7.6), rebounds per game (from 2.8 to 4.4) and assists per game (from 1.1 to 1.8). Garvin has started all 15 contests so far this season, and he is contributing 8.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Garvin is the only player on Daemen's roster to have games of at least 10+ points, 10+ rebounds and 5+ assists this season. He scored a career-high 24 points in a recent one-point loss to St. Michael's, and has reached double figures in six games this season, four of which coming after Christmas. Daemen has posted a 14-5 record in the last three seasons when Garvin scores 10 or more points.
IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Redshirt freshman center Andrew Sischo has his collegiate career off to a fast start with double-figure scoring in 11 of Daemen's 15 games. The 6-foot-9 Sischo is averaging 13.4 points per game - tops among all ECC freshmen and 14th in the league overall at present. He's also producing a team-high 6.3 rebounds per game (10th in ECC) and shooting a team-best 56.7 percent from the field (4th in ECC). A four-time ECC Rookie of the Week selection this season, Sischo poured in a career-high 27 points on 12-of-14 shooting to lead Daemen to an 86-82 win at Mercy on Dec. 15, igniting a scorching seven-game stretch that's seen him post three 20-point games and the first two double-doubles of his career, and average 17.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game while shooting 63.5 percent from the field (54-for-85).
BRING YOUR "A" GAME
Redshirt senior forward Aleks Miljenovic is chipping in with 9.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game this season. Miljenovic opened the year with back-to-back double-figure scoring games in wins over Felician and Nyack en route to earning all-tournament team honors at the ECC-CACC Challenge for the second-straight season. His 16 points and nine rebounds in the win over Felician led the team. Miljenovic has reached double-figure scoring in eight games this season, including the last three in a row. He scored a season-high 17 points and grabbed eight boards in Daemen's 80-56 win over District of Columbia on Jan. 10. Miljenovic, who began his career by playing two seasons at Roberts Wesleyan, has appeared in 42 games and made 17 starts for Daemen since the start of last season.
THINNING BENCH
Daemen's bench has grown a little thinner than anticipated in recent weeks. Redshirt junior guard Nick Petrucelli is out for the year after suffering an injury Nov. 26 at Slippery Rock. It's the second time that Petrucelli has suffered a season-ending injury. He was averaging 9.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game before his 2015-16 season was cut short with an injury that cost him all of the 2016-17 season as well. In two games this season, Petrucelli was averaging 5.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in 11.0 minutes per game off the bench. Also, redshirt senior forward Xavier Long has exercised his option to graduate in December. Long, who scored a career-high nine points in Daemen's 82-72 win over Edinboro on Nov. 28, was averaging 2.7 points and 2.0 rebounds in 11.6 minutes per game off the bench this season. For his career, Long appeared in 92 games, shot 44.4 percent from the field, and totaled 176 points and 172 rebounds. Also, redshirt junior wing Deion Hamilton is out for the season. Hamilton was averaging a team-best 15.1 points per game through the team's first 10 games.
STEPPING UP
Daemen's thinning bench has led to more opportunities for players like Breon Harris, Giambattista Davis and Melvin Grayson who have all stepped up recently. Harris is shooting 58.1 percent from the field and averaging 10.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals since being inserted into the starting lineup four games ago. After going 0-for-14 from three-point range in the first 11 games this season, Harris is 6-for-13 in this recent four-game stretch, all Daemen wins. He scored a career-high 15 points in last week's road win over Salem, and followed up with nine points and a career-high eight assists vs. Roberts Wesleyan. Davis has knocked down multiple three-pointers in two games since mid-December, both Daemen wins. He canned all three of his three-point attempts and totaled a career-high nine points in the win over Roberts Wesleyan on Jan. 6. Grayson, who did not make a field goal in the first 24 appearances of his career, has shot 7-for-15 from the field over the last eight games.
STARTING 1-0
Daemen's season-opening 62-57 win over Felician at the ECC-CACC Challenge was the Wildcats' 16th consecutive win in a regular season opener, a streak that dates back to the 2002-03 season. The wins in that span have come over 14 different opponents. Fisher (Mass.) and Wilfrid Laurier (Ont.) are the only opponents Daemen has defeated twice in season openers during the streak. The Wildcats' average margin of victory during the streak is an astonishing 24.4 points per game. The five-point win over Felician was Daemen's closest margin of victory in a season opener since beginning to play a full Division II schedule; the Wildcats' average margin of victory in the four previous season openers as a Division II institution was 22.3 points per game. Just one game in the streak prior to the win over Felician - a 68-65 final over Toronto in 2011 - had been decided by single digits. Daemen has gone over 100 points in three of the last six season openers; the high-water mark came in 2013 when they downed Ohio Valley 111-90. Last season opened with a 75-64 dispatching of Caldwell which put the Wildcats en route to their first 5-0 start to a season since 2012-13. Daemen's last loss in a season opener came at the Spring Hill College (Ala.) Tournament against the hosts on Nov. 2, 2001, falling 75-35.
DEFENDING THE DEN
Daemen posted a 14-2 record at the friendly confines of Lumsden Gymnasium last season, matching the program record for home wins in a season last achieved in 1999-2000. The Wildcats are 5-2 at home this season. Since the start of the 2011-12 season, Daemen is 75-12 at Lumsden Gymnasium (.874 winning percentage).
THRUWAY RIVALRY DOMINANCE
Daemen picked up a 98-73 win over Roberts Wesleyan on Jan. 6 giving the Wildcats wins in 13 straight and 20 of the last 21 meetings with the Redhawks, including 10 in a row at RWC's Voller Athletic Center. Jeff Redband (18 pts), Andrew Sischo (18 pts) and Jay Sarkis (17 pts) combined for 53 points and helped Daemen lead for nearly 39 minutes. Roberts Wesleyan came into the game as the ECC leader in field goal percentage defense, but the Redhawks allowed Daemen to shoot season-bests of 59.1 percent from the field and 60.9 percent from three-point range. The Wildcats matched a season-high with 21 assists and went over 90 points for the first time since Jan. 21, 2017.
LIU POST SCOUTING REPORT
LIU Post is led by veteran head coach Erik Smiles who has guided the Pioneers to a 68-64 record since taking the reins of the program five seasons ago. The Pioneers were picked fourth in the ECC preseason poll, and they return 11 players from their 2016-17 team which posted a 10-18 overall record and a 9-9 ECC mark which placed them seventh in the final league standings, one spot out of conference tournament contention. After dropping their first three games this season, the Pioneers are an even 6-6 since and they'll enter Friday's game riding a four-game conference winning streak. LIU Post's only setback in league play thus far came Dec. 6 against league-leading Bridgeport (97-70). The Pioneers are coming off a 68-58 win over Queens last Saturday, Jan. 6. Sophomore guard Jared Rivers has paced the Pioneers this season, averaging a team-best 16.9 points per game (5th in ECC). Rivers, who scored 41 points in a 91-88 win over Post (Conn.) on Nov. 19, is tied for second in the league in three-point field goals with 35. Rivers' 2.69 three-point field goals per game leads the league. Fifth-year senior Aary Bibens is the only other player averaging double-figure scoring (10.9 ppg). Additional production is coming from freshmen Darien Jenkins (7.8 ppg) and Alonzo Ortiz-Taylor (7.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg). Traditionally one of the strongest defensive teams in the league, this season seems to be no different as LIU Post ranks second among ECC teams in field goal percentage defense, allowing just 43 percent shooting to their opponents. The Pioneers also average 41.1 rebounds per game, ranking second in the ECC and 22nd nationally.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Daemen vs. LIU Post: 4-5
Streak: Won 1
Last Meeting: Daemen 88, LIU Post 66 | Jan. 25, 2017 | Amherst, N.Y.
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NYIT SCOUTING REPORT
NYIT is led by second-year head coach Kevin Hamilton who guided the Bears to an 8-18 campaign and an eighth-place finish (6-12 league record) in the East Coast Conference last season. The Bears were picked seventh in the ECC preseason poll, and they return five players, including two starters, from last season's team. The returners are headlined by juniors Jeffrey Hayden and Kieran Hamilton who combined to average 26.6 points per game last season. Sustained success has eluded the Bears thus far as they enter the weekend having lost 12 of their last 13 games. The Bears snapped an 11-game slide with a 71-58 win over Molloy last Saturday, but then dropped an 84-75 final to Assumption on Jan. 10 in a game played at the Barclays Center. Hayden is having a monster year as he leads the ECC and ranks 23rd nationally in scoring (22.3 ppg). The 6-foot-4 forward scored 49 points in a six-point loss to Adelphi on Dec. 4, and he's also averaging 7.3 rebounds per game (3rd in ECC). Hamiltonis producing 15.1 points per game, and no player in the league has attempted more three-pointers than his 126 (tied for 4th in ECC with 32 made three-pointers). Newcomer Tyler Ancrum, a junior guard, has made an immediate impact with 10.4 points and a league-best 2.5 steals per game. Free throws and turnovers have been a problem for the Bears this season. Despite leading the ECC in free throw attempts (370), the Bears rank 10th in the league and 295th in the country (out of 301 teams) in free throw percentage (61.1%). NYIT is committing 19.5 turnovers per game which also ranks last among ECC teams and 299th nationally.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Daemen vs. NYIT: 5-3
Streak: Won 4
Last Meeting: Daemen 80, NYIT 72 | Feb. 8, 2017 | Old Westbury, N.Y.
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UP NEXT
Daemen heads to the New York City metro area for a two-game road trip that will see them take on Molloy (Friday, Jan. 19) and Queens (Sunday, Jan. 21).
