The No. 4 Daemen University men's basketball team ran their record to 7-0 after defeating California (PA), 83-64. The Wildcats, leading by just 2 at halftime, used a mid-second half run to break open a double-digit lead and roll to the lopsided victory.
 
The game only featured one lead change as the Wildcats, while tested, never let California (PA) gain much momentum on their home floor.
 
IMPACT PLAYERS

• Benjamin Bill (Hamburg, N.Y.), led all players with 23 points and added 11 rebounds, 6 of which came on the offensive end, for his third-straight double-double.
• Zach Philipkoski had 20 points, knocking down 3 triples, and hitting all 5 of his free throw attempts in the game. He also had 5 rebounds and 3 assists on the night.
• Justin Hemphill was the other Wildcat in double-figures with 17 points and grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds for Daemen's second team double-double.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• California (PA) opened the game with the first bucket, a three pointer, but Daemen used a 10-0 run over the next 3-plus minutes to take a 10-3 lead.
• The Wildcats first reached a double-digit advantage with 12:12 left in the first half on a three-pointer by Justin Glover, then stretched it to 15 on a layup by Ryan Heath with just under 7 minutes remaining.
• California (PA) tested the fourth-ranked Wildcats over the next 4 minutes, trimming their deficit all the way to 2 with 2 minutes to go, but Glover came through with a layup on the other end to end the run and all but ensure a lead at the break.
• Hemphill opened the second half with a shot from beyond the arc to make it a 5 point advantage, but that was the largest lead for the first 9 minutes of the second half.
• Daemen led by just 1, at 45-44, with 11:38 remaining in the second half, but a free throw by Hemphill started what would become a 20-5 run over the next 4-plus minutes to break-open a 16-point advantage.
• With Daemen in full control now, the Wildcats maintained their double-digit lead and finished off the 83-64 win.

 
GAME NOTES

• Daemen is ranked 4th in the NABC coaches' poll and is one of two programs to receive a first place vote, along with defending national champion Nova Southeastern. The Wildcats returned 13 players from last year's 28-1 squad.
• The Wildcats were picked to finish first in the East Coast Conference preseason poll for the third time in the last four years.
• Daemen shot 32-of-68 from the field (47.1%). It is the fourth-highest shooting percentage of the season and highest since the win over St. Anselm.
• At +17, tonight marks the highest rebounding margin of the season. Daemen pulled down 43 rebounds in the game with 17 of them coming on the offensive glass.

UP NEXT
Daemen returns home to take-on Clarion on Saturday, November 29th. The game is set to start at 12:00 p.m.