GAME SIX - Daemen at Staten Island • Staten Island, N.Y. • Sports & Recreation Center • Dec. 6 • 7:30 p.m.
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Game Notes
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GAME SEVEN - Daemen at District of Columbia • Washington D.C. • Dr. Edwin Bancroft Henderson Sports Complex Gymnasium • Dec. 8 • 3:15 p.m.
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ECC PLAY HAS ARRIVED
The #8/#7 Daemen University men's basketball team begins ECC play with a trip downstate to face the College of Staten Island on Friday before heading to the nations capital to battle the University of the District of Columbia on Sunday. The trip marks the first time since the 2021-22 season that the Wildcats will start conference play on the road.
TOP 10 CATS
For the first time during the Division II era of the program, the Daemen University men's basketball team entered the top 10 of multiple national polls as they were tabbed eighth and received a first-place vote in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) National Poll and seventh in the Division II College Sports Communicators (D2CSC) National Poll. Both spots represent the highest the program has ever been ranked within the NABC and D2CSC polls while they also remain the only East Coast Conference team ranked in the top 25 of both polls. Regionally, Daemen held their top spot in the East Region for the fourth consecutive week after garnering 60 points and all six first-place votes.
100 DOLLAR (BENJAMIN) BILL
Redshirt sophomore
Benjamin Bill (Hamburg, N.Y.) was tabbed the East Coast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week, the league office announced on Dec. 2. It is the first time in his career the center earned the award as well. The Hamburg, N.Y., native dropped a career-high 25 points in Daemen's 111-77 win over #10/#10 California (Pa.) on Nov. 26. Bill shot a near perfect 11-of-13 (.846) from the floor, his second highest field goal percentage of the season, and added in six rebounds and two assists to keep the 'Cats undefeated record intact.
100 CLUB
Graduate student
Ryan Salzberg is set to become the 34th player in program history to appear in 100 games when he takes the court against Staten Island on Friday night. Currently at 99 career appearances, Salzberg would join his teammate and fellow graduate student
Andrew Mason (Webster, N.Y.) as the only two active players with 100-or-more games played. Through 99 games dating back to the 2019-20 season, Salzberg has made 71 starts, averaged 24.4 minutes per game and tallied 577 points.
HIGH FLYING WILDCATS
Through five games this season, Daemen leads the ECC and is ranked sixth in the nation for scoring margin. The Wildcats have won games by an average of 23.4 points and twice this season have won by 30-or-more points. Their offensive success has translated on the defensive side of the ball as Daemen also ranks sixth nationally and leads the ECC is scoring defense, only allowing an average of 60.6 points to opponents each game. Daemen has kept opponents below 60 points in four out of five games this season as well.
SCOUTING STATEN ISLAND (3-4, 0-0 ECC)
This season, Staten Island has amassed a 3-4 record and split their last two games, losing to Jefferson, 65-62, in their last contest on Dec. 1. Leading the offensive charge has been guard Aaron Goldstein with an average of 12.9 points per game. Assisting his offensive efforts have been Messiah Mallory, who leads the team in rebounds per game with an average of 7.1, and JJ Chestnut with 12.7 and 12.1 points per game each. On the sideline, T.J. Tibbs is in his sixth season leading the program and has amassed a 74-72 overall record.
SERIES HISTORY
In a series that dates back to the 2020-21 season, Daemen is 5-2 all-time against Staten Island and won the last meeting between the two sides, 68-56, last season on March 9, 2024, during the semifinal round of the ECC Men's Basketball Championship.
SCOUTING UDC (2-5, 0-0 ECC)
The Firebirds come into the weekend having lost their last three games with their most recent loss being handed to them by Bowie State, 73-70, on Dec. 4. Guard
Khyrie Staten has paced the UDC offense with an average of 16.1 points per game, which ranks fourth in the ECC. On the glass, freshman
Gene Anderson has collected a team-best 7.1 rebounds per game, highlighted by 12 board performances against Virginia Union and Cheyney. Michael Riley returns to the sidelines for his 11th season as the head coach of the Firebirds and has totaled 103 wins during his tenure.
SERIES HISTORY
Daemen is 19-2 all-time against UDC and has won the last 14 meetings.
UP NEXT
Daemen returns home to continue ECC play, starting with a Friday night tilt against defending ECC Champions St. Thomas Aquinas. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 13.
Daemen University features the premier 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.
Follow the Daemen University men's basketball program on Twitter and Facebook at @DaemenMBB.
