AMHERST, N.Y. - Daemen University student-athletes
Zach Philipkoski (New Hartford, N.Y.) and
Justin Hemphill (Buffalo, N.Y.) each received recognition with the announcement of East Coast Conference men's basketball
weekly awards for week five of the 2025-26 season today. Philipkoski was named the ECC Player of the Week, while Hemphill earned ECC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Both Philipkoski and Hemphill played starring roles as No. 3 Daemen earned ECC road victories over Mercy (83-65 on Dec. 12) and St. Thomas Aquinas (79-60 on Dec. 14) last week. With the wins, the Wildcats sit at 12-0 overall and 4-0 in conference play. Daemen has won 43 consecutive regular season games and 26 straight ECC contests, both streaks dating back to the 2023-24 season.
Philiposki averaged 22.5 points per game, shooting 58.5 percent from the field last week. The junior guard also averaged 9.5 rebounds per game and 4.0 assists per game. Philipkoski poured in a season-high 27 points on 73 percent shooting from the field (11-of-15 FG), including a 67 percent mark from three (4-of-6 3FG, also logging eight rebounds, three assists, and three steals in Daemen's win over Mercy. On Sunday against STAC, he logged his second double-double of the season, posting 18 points and 11 rebounds while dishing out five assists with three steals.
After coming off the bench to average 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game last season, Philipkoski has taken his game to another level this time around. He has four 20-point games this season, and is leading Daemen in scoring (17.9 ppg) and three-point field goals (29) while also contributing 6.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He is now a two-time ECC Player of the Week recipient, having received the honor for week two earlier this season.
Hemphill was a defensive stalwart and grabs ECC Defensive Player of the Week honors for a second straight week. The redshirt senior forward scrapped for nine rebounds (five defensive), with five steals to go with six points and eight assists in 35 minutes at Mercy on Friday night. Hemphill then went off for 13 rebounds (10 defensive) with four blocks and a steal with 10 points for a double-double at St. Thomas Aquinas. Across two conference wins, Hemphill averaged 11.0 rebounds per game, 3.0 steals per game, and 2.0 blocks per game while helping to hold Daemen's opposition to just 62.5 points per game.
A two-time All-ECC recipient, Hemphill is averaging 10.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.6 steals and 1.0 block per game this season. He leads Daemen in steals and assists, ranking among the conference's top three leaders in each category.
Daemen, which is allowing a league-low 64.8 points per game, has now had the ECC Defensive Player of the Week in four out of five weeks this season. Hemphill is the third individual player to garner the accolade, joining junior guard
Ryan Heath (Rochester, N.Y.) and redshirt junior center
Benjamin Bill (Hamburg, N.Y.) who have also been recognized with Defensive Player of the Week honors this season.
Philipkoski, Hemphill and the nationally-ranked Wildcats are back in action this Wednesday, Dec. 17 when they welcome No. 22 Assumption for a noon tip-off at Lumsden Gymnasium.
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.
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