Wildcats Move Up In Both National Polls

Daemen Jumps To #8 In D2SIDA Poll, #13 In NABC Poll

11/26/2019 4:09:00 PM

By: By Mike Miranto, Sr. Associate A.D. for External Operations & Communications

AMHERST, N.Y. - The Daemen College men's basketball team has moved up in both national polls for the second straight week. Daemen comes in at No. 13 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) top-25 poll (up from No. 17 last week), and No. 8 in the Division II Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA) national media poll (up from No. 10 last week) which were both released today.

The rankings represent high-water marks for Daemen in each poll. Daemen had never been ranked higher than No. 10 in the D2SIDA poll prior to today, and their No. 13 ranking matches their highest ascent in the NABC poll which was last achieved on Feb. 19, 2019. Daemen has now been ranked in 12 of the last 13 D2SIDA polls, and 10 consecutive NABC polls.

The Wildcats are off to a 7-1 start this season. Their lone loss came back on November 1 against defending national champion Northwest Missouri State University, winners of 44 straight games and again ranked atop both polls this week. The Wildcats have rattled off seven straight wins since then, including six that have featured second-half comebacks. Head coach Mike MacDonald saw his team rally from an eight-point deficit with under seven minutes to play for an 89-79 defeat of upstate rival Le Moyne College last Tuesday (Nov. 19). They then rallied from a six-point hole with under five minutes to play in an 83-81 win over Wilmington University on Saturday (Nov. 23) in Daemen's first-ever game at KeyBank Center in downtown Buffalo.

The early season run has featured six home wins. Daemen has won 14 straight and 29 of their last 31 home games. The Wildcats are also unbeaten in 15 straight home non-conference games.

Redshirt-junior Andrew Sischo (Guilderland, N.Y.) continues to lead the way by averaging 25.3 points and 13.9 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-9 center has posted seven double-doubles this season, and ranks 11th in scoring and second in rebounding among the national leaders for Division II.

Breon Harris (Niagara Falls, N.Y.), Joey Wallace (Rochester, N.Y.) and Jeff Redband (Batavia, N.Y.) are also scoring in double figures for Daemen which is averaging 80.6 points per game as a team. All three players have been instrumental in recent games. Harris (12.1 ppg, team-high 21 assists) scored a season-high 21 points in the win over Wilmington. It was his go-ahead three-pointer and subsequent steal in the final 32 seconds that lifted Daemen to the victory. Wallace (12.0 ppg) shot 10-for-11 from the free throw line in the second half vs. Wilmington, and has scored 17 points or more in three of the last four games. Redband (10.3 ppg) has a team-high 20 three-pointers, and his back-to-back jumpers keyed a game-closing 22-3 run in the win over Le Moyne.

Daemen returns to action this Saturday, Nov. 30 with their first true road game of the season. The Wildcats will visit University of the Sciences for a 3 p.m. tip-off at Bobby Morgan Arena in Philadelphia.

NABC Division II Men's Basketball Rankings - Week #2
1. Northwest Missouri State
2. Nova Southeastern
3. Bellarmine
4. UC San Diego
5. West Texas A&M
6. Indiana (Pa.)
7. Valdosta State
8. Alabama Hunstville
9. Lincoln Memorial
10. Southern Indiana
11. Ashland
12. Queens (N.C.)
13. DAEMEN
14. West Liberty
15. Missouri Southern
16. St. Thomas Aquinas
17. Indianapolis
18. St. Edward's
19. St. Anselm
20. Southeastern Oklahoma State
21. Dixie State
22. Dallas Baptist
23. Ferris State
24. Florida Southern
25. Azusa Pacific

D2SIDA National Media Poll - Week #2
1. Northwest Missouri State
2. Nova Southeastern
3. Bellarmine
4. West Texas A&M
5. UC San Diego
6. Indiana (Pa.)
7. Valdosta State
8. DAEMEN
9. Lincoln Memorial
10. Southern Indiana
11. Queens (N.C.)
12. West Chester
13. Alabama Hunstville
14. Southeastern Oklahoma State
15. Dixie State
16. Indianapolis
17. West Liberty
18. St. Thomas Aquinas
19. Missouri Southern
20. Azusa Pacific
21. St. Edward's
22 St. Anselm
23. Ferris State
24. UNC Pembroke
25. Dallas Baptist

Daemen College features the only NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

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