GAME INFORMATION
Game No. 18
Daemen Wildcats (11-6, 5-2 ECC) vs. Molloy Lions (3-14, 2-5 ECC)
Friday, Jan. 19 | 6 p.m.
Rockville Centre, N.Y. | Quealy Gymnasium
Game No. 19
Daemen Wildcats (11-6, 5-2 ECC) vs. Queens Knights (5-8, 3-3 ECC)
Sunday, Jan. 21 | 3:30 p.m.
Flushing, N.Y. | Fitzgerald Gymnasium
GAME LINKS - VS. MOLLOY
Live Stats
Watch Live on the ECC Network
Game Day
GAME LINKS - VS. QUEENS
Live Stats
Watch Live on the ECC Network
Game Day
JUMP BALL
Daemen takes its six-game winning streak into a weekend road trip to the New York City metro area where they'll face Molloy and Queens in a pair of East Coast Conference games. The Wildcats will be looking for some revenge after losing twice to Molloy last year by a combined five points, losses that snapped Daemen's five-game winning streak in the all-time series. The Wildcats have won seven of the nine all-time meetings with Queens, including a sweep of last season's two games. Daemen enters the weekend in third place in the ECC standings.
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.
REGIONAL RANKS
Daemen's six-game winning streak has vaulted them into a tie for 10th in the latest D2SIDA East Region media poll which was released earlier this week. It's the first time that Daemen has been regionally-ranked since the final week of the 2015-16 regular season.
BREAKOUT BREON
Sophomore guard Breon Harris has exploded on the scene with an incredible stretch of late, helping Daemen to six consecutive victories since he was inserted into the starting lineup back on Dec. 31 vs. St. Rose. After producing just 3.1 points on 31.8 percent shooting while coming off the bench in the team's first 11 games, Harris is contributing 13.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.7 steals per game, while shooting 62.2 percent from the field and 52.6 percent from three-point range as a starter. He was named the ECC Player of the Week for Jan. 8-14 after leading Daemen to a trio of home wins. In that stretch, he eclipsed his career-high for points and rebounds in consecutive games. He scored 16 points, grabbed seven boards and swiped a career-high seven steals in the Wildcats' eight-point win over LIU Post on Jan. 12. Harris followed that up by shooting a perfect 9-for-9 from the field and 2-for-2 from three-point range while totaling career-highs of 23 points and eight rebounds in a 93-82 win over NYIT.
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 10.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, and he presently ranks seventh in the ECC in three-point field goals (33), and he's one of only 13 players in the league at present to be shooting 40 percent or better from downtown.
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 17 games this season, Sarkis is producing 12.6 points and a team-best 3.6 assists per game. He scored a career-high 20 points in Daemen's 79-73 win over Wilmington on Nov. 18, and matched that total in a 93-82 defeat of NYIT on Jan. 14. Sarkis has dished out five or more assists in six games this season, including a career-high seven in a Jan. 10 win over District of Columbia. He has made at least one three-pointer in 22 consecutive games dating back to his freshmen season, and ranks among the ECC leaders in minutes per game (34.3 - 3rd), three-point field goal percentage (46.6 - 4th), three-point field goals (41 - 3rd), and total assists (62 - 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 17 contests so far this season, and he is contributing 9.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.8 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 eight games this season, six of which have come since Christmas. Daemen has posted a 16-5 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 13 of Daemen's 17 games, including the last nine in a row. The 6-foot-9 Sischo is averaging 13.8 points per game - tops among all ECC freshmen and 10th in the league overall at present. He's also producing a team-high 6.8 rebounds per game (6th in ECC) and shooting a team-best 55.0 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 nine-game stretch that's seen him post three 20-point games and the first three double-doubles of his career, and average 17.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while shooting 59.1 percent from the field (68-for-115).
BRING YOUR "A" GAME
Redshirt senior forward Aleks Miljenovic is chipping in with 9.9 points and 5.3 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 nine games this season, including in four off the last five outings. He scored a season-high 17 points and grabbed eight boards in Daemen's 80-56 win over District of Columbia on Jan. 10, and added 17 points and nine rebounds in a 74-66 defeat of LIU Post on Jan. 12. Miljenovic, who began his career by playing two seasons at Roberts Wesleyan, has appeared in 44 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.
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 7-2 at home this season. Since the start of the 2011-12 season, Daemen is 77-12 at Lumsden Gymnasium (.865 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.
MOLLOY SCOUTING REPORT
Molloy is led by veteran head coach Charles Marquardt who has guided the Lions to a 258-389 record in his 24-year tenure to date. The Lions have won 16 or more games in four of the last five seasons. Last season was one of their finest as Marquardt steered the Lions to an 18-11 record, a second-place finish in the ECC standings, and their first appearance in the ECC Tournament finals since 2000. But, gone from last year's team are stars Charlie Marquardt, the coach's son, and Jaylen Morris, both of whom are now playing in the NBA Developmental League. Marquardt and Morris were the highest scoring tandem in the league last year, combining for 41.8 points per game which was equal to 51.1 percent of the Lions' offense. Buoyed by 10 returning players, including sophomore guard Nick Corbett and junior guard Curtis Jenkins, the Lions were picked sixth in the ECC preseason poll. Corbett is the reigning ECC Rookie of the Year after producing 9.3 points and 3.5 assists per game last season. Jenkins has been a double-figure scorer in each of his first two collegiate seasons. The Lions enter the weekend with just three wins in 17 games, but they've played a tough schedule with five losses to regionally-ranked teams and a pair of losses to Division I opponents. After starting the conference season with back-to-back wins over District of Columbia and Queens, the Lions have dropped five straight ECC games (seven straight overall). Corbett has developed into their go-to player as he's averaging 17.0 points per game, fifth-best in the league at present. Jenkins ranks second in the league in steals (39) and is contributing a career-high 14.3 points per game. Additional production is coming from junior forward Mike Torre (13.5 ppg). Turnovers have plagued the Lions this season as they rank 300th out of 300 Division II teams with 19.8 turnovers per contest.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Daemen vs. Molloy: 5-4
Streak: Lost 2
Last Meeting: Molloy 73, Daemen 71 | Feb. 18, 2017 | Amherst, N.Y.
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QUEENS SCOUTING REPORT
Queens is led by second-year head coach Matt Collier who guided the Knights to a 13-13 campaign and a sixth-place finish (10-8 league record) in the East Coast Conference last season. The Knights qualified for the ECC Tournament, but bowed out in the opening round after an 85-74 loss to third-seeded Bridgeport. This year, Collier's squad, which features just five returners, was picked eighth in the ECC preseason poll. The Knights, who have played just three road games so far this season, have posted a 5-5 home record and are winners in three straight games played at Fitzgerald Gymnasium. The Knights are coming off a 99-81 loss to league-leading Bridgeport last weekend, and they'll host Roberts Wesleyan on Friday. Senior guard Tyrone Hall paces a quartet of double-figure scorers, averaging 13.4 points per contest. Freshman guard Tyrese Crosdale (11.5 ppg) and senior guard Simon Green (10.9 ppg) are also producing. Sophomore forward Isaac Grant (10.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg) leads the ECC in field goal percentage, connecting on 60.9 percent of his attempts. Queens is hitting 9.8 three-pointers per game which ranks first among ECC teams and 35th nationally.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Daemen vs. Queens: 7-2
Streak: Won 2
Last Meeting: Daemen 71, Queens 59 | Feb. 22, 2017 | Amherst, N.Y.
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UP NEXT
Daemen returns home to host Mercy (Friday, Jan. 26) and Bridgeport (Sunday, Jan. 28).
