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Daemen University Athletics

Western New York's Premier Division II Team
Fearless, Integrity, Effort, Respect, Commitment, Excitement
bradley mbb vs west texas
Tevor Fleeman
Ryan Bradley scored a career-high 15 points in a strong showing for the Daemen frontcourt
80
Winner Daemen DAEM 2-3 (1-0)
61
Staten Island CSIM 0-4 (0-1)
Winner
Daemen DAEM
2-3 (1-0)
80
Final
61
Staten Island CSIM
0-4 (0-1)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Daemen DAEM 47 33 80
Staten Island CSIM 32 29 61

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | CONTACT: Mike Miranto, Sr. Associate A.D. for Communications/Operations

Sischo, Bradley Lead Wildcats To Win In ECC Opener

Daemen wins first-ever meeting with ECC newcomer Staten Island

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - With the frontcourt duo of Andrew Sischo (Guilderland, N.Y.) and Ryan Bradley (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) leading the way, the Daemen men's basketball team provided a rude welcome to East Coast Conference newcomer Staten Island, cruising past the Dolphins 80-61 at the CSI Sports and Recreation Center this evening. It marked the ECC season opener for both teams, and the first-ever ECC contest for CSI which is transitioning to the NCAA Division II ranks from Division III. 

The Wildcats picked up their first victory since October 29, snapping a three-game slide to improve to 2-3 on the season. Coach Mike MacDonald's team is off to a 1-0 start in ECC play for the fourth straight season. It was arguably the Wildcats' best offensive performance of the season, as they enjoyed season-highs in points, field goals (30), field goal percentage (.476) and assists (14). 

CSI (0-4, 0-1 ECC) is left searching for their first win of the season. The Dolphins, who opted out of the 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, last won a game on February 10, 2020 (66-61 over Brooklyn College). 

Sischo and Bradley had their way with the interior of the CSI defense right from the jump ball. The tandem played a pivotal role in helping Daemen outscore the Dolphins 40-18 in the paint, while also posting a 44-25 rebounding advantage. 

With Daemen dominating the interior, the Wildcats took less than five minutes to open up a 10-point lead, scoring 14 of the game's first 18 points. A 16-3 Daemen run, including eight points from forward Bradley, further cemented the Wildcats' grip, putting them ahead 37-17. The Daemen lead reached 20 points (42-22) on a three-pointer by Nick MacDonald (Amherst, N.Y.), but CSI closed the opening stanza on a 10-5 spurt to pull within 15 points (47-32) at the break. 

The Daemen lead quickly ballooned back over 20 points as the Wildcats opened the second half with a 10-2 spurt, including three-pointers from Ryan Salzberg (Manlius, N.Y.) and Sean Fasoyiro (Houston, Texas). Daemen's largest advantage came at the 10:16 mark when a layup by Joey Atkins (Watervliet, N.Y.) put them ahead by 27 points (69-42). 

IMPACT PLAYERS
  • Sischo scored 18 of his 24 points in the first half, and finished 10-for-15 from the field. He added 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season and the 64th of his career. 
  • Bradley, who made his second straight start, had a night to remember, finishing with career-highs in points (15) and rebounds (nine) while flirting with a double-double. He shot 7-for-11 from the field and added two steals and two blocks.
  • Salzberg, MacDonald and Kyle Harris (Buffalo, N.Y.) combined for six of the Wildcats' nine three-pointers. Salzberg finished with eight points in his return to the lineup after missing the previous game vs. Mercyhurst. MacDonald netted nine points and dished three assists. Harris finished with six points and a season-high five assists.
  • Michael Ashley came off the bench to lead CSI, finishing with 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting to go with six rebounds in just 23 minutes of action. Austin Mick chipped in 15 points, including a trio of three-pointers. 

GAME NOTES
  • Daemen returns 11 players, including all five starters, from their 2020-21 team that won the NCAA Division II East Region Championship and advanced to the Elite Eight. 
  • Tonight's win was Daemen's first since their season opener - a 67-63 defeat of Minnesota State Moorhead in the first round of the Division II Conference Commissioners Association Tip-Off Classic in Canyon, Texas.
  • The game was just Daemen's second since emerging from a COVID-19-related pause in team activities. The Wildcats had four games canceled from Nov. 8-13 due to the shutdown. 
  • All three of Daemen's setbacks this season have come against nationally ranked opponents. Tonight's win allowed the Wildcats to avoid their first four-game losing streak since the 2010-11 season. 
  • Daemen head coach Mike MacDonald is now just two wins shy of 400 for his career. The veteran bench boss owns a 398-286 record across 25 seasons. MacDonald ranks 37th among active Division II coaches in career wins. He has led Daemen to a 141-60 record since taking the reins of the program in 2014.
  • The Wildcats are 6-3 all-time in ECC season openers. 
  • While the Wildcats regained the services of their starting point guard Salzberg, they remained without starting guard Andrew Mason (Webster, N.Y.) who missed his second straight game. Mason is averaging 12.3 points in 19 career games. 
  • Sischo has now scored 10+ points in 70 of his last 71 games. Tonight's outing marked the 61st 20-point game of his career.

NEXT JUMP BALL
Daemen makes its long-awaited home debut this Saturday, November 27 when they host regional foe St. Rose for a 1 p.m. tip-off. 

Daemen College features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 18 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.

Follow the Daemen College men's basketball program on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @DaemenMBB.  
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