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Daemen University Athletics

Western New York's Premier Division II Team
Fearless, Integrity, Effort, Respect, Commitment, Excitement
Phil Nwugwo layup
Geoff Schneider
60
Mercy Mercy 2-19,2-10 ECC
86
Winner Daemen Daemen 25-1,13-0 ECC
Mercy Mercy
2-19,2-10 ECC
60
Final
86
Daemen Daemen
25-1,13-0 ECC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Mercy Mercy 26 34 60
Daemen Daemen 39 47 86

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | CONTACT: Mary Margaret Johnson, Director of Athletics Communications | mmjohnso@daemen.edu

No. 4 Wildcats Cruise To 86-60 Win Over Mavericks

AMHERST, N.Y. – The No. 4 Daemen University men's basketball team remained undefeated in East Coast Conference play with an 86-60 win over Mercy University on Friday night. The Wildcats improve to 25-1 overall and 13-0 in ECC action while Mercy drops to 2-19 on the year and 2-10 in conference games.

The Wildcats controlled the game from start to finish, out-rebounding the Mavericks 52-31 and blocking 10 shots. Daemen dominated the paint with 38 points and capitalized on fast breaks, scoring 20 points in transition while holding the visitors to just two fast-break points. Five Wildcats scored in the double digits tonight as the Cats shot 48.5% from the field. 
 
IMPACT PLAYERS
  • Redshirt junior Benjamin Bill (Hamburg, N.Y.) tallied 16 points after shooting 58% (7-of-12) from the field and added six rebounds – three offensive – and one block on the night. Bill, the 2025 ECC Player of the Year and NABC All-American, played 21 minutes in his fourth game back after missing 11 with a lower body injury.
  • Senior Justin Glover (Buffalo, N.Y.) finished with 16 points and knocked down four of nine triples on the night, adding four rebounds to his stat line.
  • Redshirt senior Justin Hemphill (Buffalo, N.Y.) finished with his first career triple double tonight, totaling 13 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds while adding three blocks. Hemphill was a perfect 5-of-5 from the field, including knocking down the first three of the game.
  • Redshirt junior Phil Nwugwo (Rochester, N.Y.) totaled 11 points, shooting 62% (5-of-8) from the field and added six rebounds – three offensive boards – and two blocks.
  • After earning ECC Rookie of the Week on Monday, Nakyhi Harris (Buffalo, N.Y.) followed up with another successful outing, finishing with 10 points off a pair of triples, adding three boards, one block and one assist.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • Daemen started with a strong defensive effort, recording a steal by Heath at 19:03 and converting it into a jumper by Bill at 18:52 to take an early lead. Hemphill hit a 3-pointer at 19:20, setting the tone for Daemen's shooting performance from beyond the arc. 
  • Daemen's consistent rebounding, including 11 offensive boards, allowed them to capitalize on second-chance opportunities, contributing to their 39–26 lead at the half. Mercy struggled to find rhythm, managing only 8 field goals on 25 attempts, as Daemen's defense, highlighted by 6 blocks, stifled the Maverick offense. The Wildcats scored 20 points in the paint in the first 20 minutes of play with Bill contributing 13 first-half points.
  • The Wildcats opened the second half with offensive firepower highlighted by Glover's 3-pointer at 19:28, pushing the Daemen advantage to 42–27. The Mavs attempted to close the gap, with Tyrell Miller's layup cutting the deficit to 48–34 at 16:46. 
  • A series of fast breaks by Daemen, including Nwugwo's layups at 11:52 and 11:24 and a triple from Harris at 10:53 to give the Cats the 61-42 advantage. Daemen maintained its momentum, outscoring Mercy 47–34 in the half to secure an 86–60 victory. 
GAME NOTES
  • The Wildcats have won 35 straight ECC games dating back to Feb. 11, 2024.
  • Daemen is ranked No. 4 in the latest NABC coaches' poll, marking the 24th consecutive poll that Daemen has been ranked in the top-5. The Wildcats returned 13 players from last year's 28-1 squad and have been in the top four in every poll this season.
  • The Wildcats have posted a 53-2 record since the start of the 2024-25 season. 
  • The Wildcats were picked to finish first in the East Coast Conference preseason poll for the third time in the last four years. Daemen sits atop the ECC standings with a 12-0 record in league play.
  • Daemen has an average margin of victory of 23 points in ECC contests and has won each game by at least eight points.
  • Daemen shot 45.6% from the field tonight, going 31-of-68 as five Wildcats recorded double-digit points.
  • With his 13 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, Justin Hemphill became the first Daemen player to record a triple-double since Daemen Hall of Famer Gerald Beverly on December 17, 2014.
  • Tonight marked the 26th all-time meeting between Daemen and Mercy. The Wildcats have won all 26 games over the Mavericks.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats return to Lumsden Gymnasium for their last regular season home game of the year on Sunday as they play host to St. Thomas Aquinas. Daemen will honor four seniors, Justin Glover, Josh Haskell, Justin Hemphill and Aidan Harrison, before the 2 PM game.
 
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