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Daemen University Athletics

Western New York's Premier Division II Team
Fearless, Integrity, Effort, Respect, Commitment, Excitement
MBB Senior day
Geoff Schneider
67
St. Thomas Aquinas STA 14-11,10-3 ECC
82
Winner Daemen Daemen 26-1,14-0 ECC
St. Thomas Aquinas STA
14-11,10-3 ECC
67
Final
82
Daemen Daemen
26-1,14-0 ECC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
St. Thomas Aquinas STA 19 48 67
Daemen Daemen 45 37 82

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

No. 4 Wildcats Clinch ECC Regular Season Title In Standout Win Against STAC

AMHERST, N.Y. — The No. 4 ranked Daemen University men's basketball team (26-1, 14-0 ECC) secured an 82-67 victory over St. Thomas Aquinas (14-11, 10-3 ECC) on Sunday at Lumsden Gymnasium. With the win, the Wildcats secured their second consecutive East Coast Conference regular season title, the fourth in program history for Daemen. As regular season champs, the Wildcats will host the 2025 ECC Tournament at Lumsden Gymnasium on March 7-8. 

Shooting 53% (35-of-66) from the field today, nine different Wildcats scored points today. Daemen was led offensively by a trio of double-digit scorers. The Wildcats dominated the paint with 56 points, contributing to their decisive win. 

Daemen celebrated four seniors ahead of the game for their Senior Day, honoring Josh Glover (Buffalo, N.Y.), Justin Hemphill (Buffalo, N.Y.), Ayden Harrison (Clifton Park, N.Y.) and Josh Haskell (West Seneca, N.Y.) before the big win. 

IMPACT PLAYERS
  • Junior Zach Philipkoski (New Hartford, N.Y.) led the Wildcats with 21 points while shooting 69% (9-of-13) from the field. The junior guard was one rebound away from collecting a double-double, finishing with nine rebounds, seven assists, two steals and one block on the day. 
  • Junior Ryan Heath (Rochester, N.Y.) totaled 15 points after shooting 70% (7-of-10) from the field and added two rebounds, two assists and one steal.
  • Redshirt junior Phil Nwugwo (Rochester, N.Y.) finished with double-digit points for the eighth straight game, totaling 10 points on the night day after going 5-of-7 from the field. The forward posted a team-high three blocks, three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
  • On his senior day, Hemphill totaled eight points, eight rebounds, six assists, one block and one steal. 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • After the Spartans scored the first bucket of the game, Daemen responded with a defensive block by Philipkoski and a fast-break layup by Heath. The Wildcats then established control, leading 13-9 with contributions from Philipkoski, who scored a layup and converted a free throw at the 12:39 mark. 
  • Daemen maintained momentum with a triple from Heath at 7:42 to jump out to a 24-15 advantage. The half concluded with Hemphill hitting a 3-pointer, giving the Wildcats a commanding 45-19 advantage at the break.
  • Benjamin Bill (Hamburg, N.Y.) began the half with a layup at 19:45, assisted by Philipkoski, setting the tone for the home team's strong offensive performance. Philipkoski was instrumental throughout, contributing with a three-pointer and several assists, including a fast-break layup by Heath at 16:16. 
  • Despite the Spartans outscoring the Wildcats 48-37 in the second half, Daemen maintained control, closing the game with two free throws from Santana Sinvilcin (Port Chester, N.Y.) to win it 82-67. 
GAME NOTES
  • Daemen swept the Spartans for the second straight regular season.
  • This marked the program's fourth ECC regular season title and the second straight ECC regular season crown for the Wildcats. Daemen previously won the conference in 2013-14, 2018-19, and 2024-25. 
  • The Wildcats have won 36 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.
  • Since the start of the 2024-25 season, the Wildcats have posted a 54-2 record. 
  • 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.
  • The Wildcats shot 50% or better from the field for the 10th time this season, finishing the day with a 53% field goal percentage. 
  • Daemen is averaging 82.6 points per game this season while holding their opponents to an average of 65.8 points per game.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will play at crosstown rival D'Youville on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 3 PM.  
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