BUFFALO, N.Y. - The backcourt tandem of Mohamed Traore and Isaiah Moore combined for 40 points to lead Franklin Pierce University to an 83-80 victory over Daemen College at KeyBank Center in downtown Buffalo today. The game was part of the Big 4 Basketball Tripleheader that also featured contests between Niagara University and the University at Albany and Canisius College and the University at Buffalo.

Franklin Pierce, a long-time member of the Northeast-10 Conference, ran its winning streak to five-straight games and improved to 7-3. Each of the five wins have been decided by five points or less. The Ravens entered the game ranked fifth in the D2SIDA East Region media poll. Daemen saw its two-game winning streak come to an end and dropped to 5-6 on the year. Daemen is now just 1-3 on the year in games decided by five points or less.

Both teams put together early runs and the Wildcats held a 21-19 lead when the Ravens strung together 12 unanswered points to take a 31-21 lead with just under five minutes before halftime. The Wildcats responded six straight points of their own to cut the lead to four points, 31-27. The teams traded baskets the rest of the half and FPU took a 38-35 lead into the break.

The Ravens once again held a double digit lead, 57-47, six minutes into the second half and FPU later equaled their largest lead of the game, 71-59, after junior Brandon Kolak drilled a corner three-pointer with 8:21 remaining. Daemen answered with a bucket by redshirt junior Joey Atkins (Watervliet, N.Y.) and then cut the lead to four points after junior Nick MacDonald (Amherst, N.Y.) and graduate student Kyle Harris (Buffalo, N.Y.) drilled back-to-back three-pointers. Neither team scored during a two minute stretch and the score remained 71-67 until Traore swished two free throws with 4:03 to play. MacDonald later made it a one possession game (75-72) after he hit a triple from the top of the key with 2:24 left, but Traore drilled a clutch three-pointer on FPU's next possession to make it 78-72. Daemen came up empty on its next possession and Traore canned two free throws with 1:54 left to give the visitors an eight points edge. Sischo drilled a three-pointer 12 seconds later, but neither team scored again until Moore made one-of-two free throws with 32 seconds left. The FPU lead was four points, 81-77, with nine seconds left when Traore sealed the win by hitting two free throws.

IMPACT PLAYERS

• Traore, a freshman, connected on 4-of-8 three-pointers and netted a game-high 22 points for the Ravens. He also added six rebounds and three assists. Moore, a junior who entered the game averaging 24.7 points a game, played all 40 minutes and totaled 18 points, five rebounds and six assists.
• Junior forward Maxwell Zegarowski added 15 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks for the visitors.
• Three players scored in double figures for the Wildcats.
• Graduate student Andrew Sischo (Guilderland, N.Y.) registered his 10th double-double (ninth consecutive) of the season and finished with 20 points and 17 rebounds. He has now registered 70 career double-doubles.
• MacDonald went 5-of-10 from the field and contributed 16 points in 24 minutes off the bench.
• Graduate student Sean Fasoyiro (Houston, Tex.), who played three seasons at Franklin Pierce before transferring to Daemen as a graduate student last year, scored in double figures for the fourth straight game and finished with 14 points, six rebounds and eight assists.
• Sophomore Andrew Mason (Webster, N.Y.) added eight points and five rebounds, while Harris drilled three three-pointers and scored nine points. 

HEAD COACH MIKE MACDONALD POST-GAME COMMENTS

On The Game
"We knew they were a good team. We saw what they have done so far and who they have beaten. We were in good shape heading into halftime, but I think it got away from us defensively in the second half. We didn't guard them nearly as well and they made a lot of threes. Our 1-3-1 got them off balance and got us back into it. The last five minutes we had chances, but just didn't make shots."

On Daemen Battling Back Throughout The Game
"We made this a close game. If we didn't have heart and determination it could have easily went the other way on us. We kept battling, but the ball just didn't drop at the end."

On Playing At KeyBank Center
"We think it's great to be on the biggest stage in Buffalo and our guys enjoy the opportunity. We are very thankful to be included in this event and I think it shows what the program has become. We talk to the guys about having great experiences. Whether that's playing in Texas earlier this year or in the Carrier Dome a couple years ago, these players have had great experiences and this is another one for them."

JUNIOR NICK MACDONALD POST-GAME COMMENTS

On Playing For His Dad At KeyBank Center
"It's pretty cool, but every time I get to play for him and put on a Daemen uniform I think it's a unique opportunity. Very fortunate to be able to play at the Key Bank Center. I grew up a Sabres fan and came to countless NCAA Tournament games here and I have always dreamed of playing in this building. Obviously wish we could have got the win."

ALL-AMERICAN ANDREW SISCHO POST-GAME COMMENTS

On Playing A Difficult Schedule Thus Far
"As long as we keep our heads high it's done exactly what it's supposed to do. You come to Daemen because you want to play the best teams. It has tested us and so far the ball has not rolled our way, but it will as long as we keep playing hard."

On His Play So Far This Season (Nation Best 10 Double Doubles)
"I expect to win and it's tough when you don't win. Double doubles are something that you guys keep, but we are just trying to win every game and credit to my guys for having the trust in me to do what I have to do to help us win."

On His Steal And Slam Dunk Sparking The Team In The Second Half
"We have a lot of guys on this team that don't ever give up. Everyone brings the energy and that's how we practice. I'll do anything to win and that just happened to be the play at that moment to try and get the team back on track."

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.
• Today's game marked the first ever meeting between Daemen and Franklin Pierce.
• Both teams shot 42-percent from the field, but the Ravens made good on 13-of-37 three-point attempts while the Wildcats went 9-of-25 from downtown.
• Sischo has scored in double figures in 76 of his last 77 games and has reached 20+ points in 27 of his last 32 contests. He has now totaled 2,467 points and 1,251 rebounds in 115 career games.
• A two-time consensus All-American and three-time ECC Player of the Year, Sischo is NCAA Division II's active leader in career points, career rebounds and career double-doubles. He is the all-time leading scorer in Daemen and ECC history and earlier this year became just the 39th player in NCAA Division II history to reach 2,400 points.

NEXT JUMP BALL

The Wildcats return to East Coast Conference play Monday (Dec. 20) when they travel to the University of the District of Columbia.

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.

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