BUFFALO, N.Y. — The No. 4 ranked Daemen University men's basketball team (27-1, 15-0 ECC) posted a statement 90-67 win over crosstown rival D'Youville University (7-16, 7-8 ECC) on Sunday afternoon at the Saints Center Gym. The back-to-back East Coast Conference regular season champion Wildcats dominated the Saints from start to finish, leading by double-digits within the first five minutes of the game and extending their advantage to as much as 27 points down the stretch. 

Daemen's balanced offense featured five players with double-digit points in the victory, led by a season-tying high performance by junior guard Zach Philipkoski (New Hartford, N.Y.) who totaled 28 points after banking nine field goals. The Wildcats finished the day shooting 47.9 percent from the field and knocked down 10 triples as a team, marking the fifth time this season that Daemen had 10+ three point field goals in a game. 

IMPACT PLAYERS

• Philipkoski tied a season-high with 28 points after knocking down 9 field goals, including four from beyond the arc. The junior guard added seven rebounds, two blocks, three steals and two assists to his impressive afternoon.
• Redshirt junior Benjamin Bill (Hamburg, N.Y.) shot 54 percent from the field, totaling 13 points off six field goals along with seven rebounds, including four offensive boards, and a team-high three blocks, three assists and two steals. 
• Junior Ryan Heath (Rochester, N.Y.) finished with 12 points, six rebounds, two steals and one assist.
• Redshirt senior Justin Hemphill (Buffalo, N.Y.) was 62 percent from the field after banking 5-of-8 and one triple for 11 points, adding a team-high eight rebounds -- four O-boards -- and doled out a team-high six assists along with a block and a steal.
• Redshirt junior Phil Nwugwo (Rochester, N.Y.) totaled 10 points after going 5-of-6 from the field along with three offensive rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Daemen opened the game with strong play, quickly establishing an 11-2 lead with contributions from Philipkoski, who scored a layup and a jumper in the paint. Hemphill hit a three-pointer at 17:43, followed by another from Philipkoski, extending their lead to 14-2. After an 8-2 run in the middle of the first, D'Youville brought the game within five points, but Daemen's offensive efforts kept the momentum in their favor, kick-started by Philipkoski's triple at 8:22 that began a 12-0 Wildcat run to take an 35-18 advantage.
• The Wildcats ended the first half ahead 45-30, maintaining control throughout with efficient scoring and solid defensive rebounding.
• Daemen extended its lead in the second half with a strong offensive performance, outscoring D'Youville 45-37. After a pair of triples in the first, Justin Glover (Buffalo, N.Y.) contributed a crucial 3-pointer at 18:16, assisted by Ryan Heath, pushing Daemen's lead to 20 points. 
• Bill was active in the paint, converting a layup and a free throw for a three-point play at the 17:16 mark. Nwugwo added to the momentum with a layup at 11:11, further solidifying Daemen's advantage.
• Despite D'Youville's efforts, including a late 3-pointer with 13 seconds left, the Wildcats maintained control for a decisive victory.

GAME NOTES

• The Wildcats scored 90 points in both match ups against the Saints this season, rebounding from their sole loss of the season to #10 Gannon with a Jan. 24 victory (90-65) over D'Youville.
• Daemen dominated the paint today, scoring 48 points and recording 21 assists in the game while out-rebounding the Saints 45 to 31 in the win. The Wildcats pulled down 22 offensive boards compared to just nine for the Saints. 
• Daemen's balanced offense featured five players with double-digit points today, led by Philipkoski's 28 points. Bill (13 pts), Heath (12 pts), Hemphill (11 pts) and Nwugwo (10 pts) each contributed 10 or more points for the Wildcats. 
• Taking advantage of D'Youville's 17 turnovers, the Wildcats scored 21 points off turnovers on the day while giving the ball away just 10 times all game and only allowing the Saints to earn 10 points from Wildcat mistakes. 
• Last Sunday, Daemen won its second consecutive ECC regular season title after an 82-67 home win against longtime rival St. Thomas Aquinas. Daemen previously won the conference in 2013-14, 2018-19, and 2024-25. As the top seed in the tournament, the Wildcats will host the 2026 ECC Tournament at Lumsden Gymnasium on March 7-8.
• The Wildcats have won 37 straight ECC games dating back to Feb. 11, 2024.
• Daemen is ranked No. 4 in the latest NABC coaches' poll, marking the 25th 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 55-2 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 15-0 record in league play.
• Daemen is averaging 82.8 points per game this season while holding their opponents to an average of 65.8 points per game.
• The Wildcats have an average margin of victory of 23 points in ECC contests and has won each game by at least eight points.

UP NEXT
Daemen rounds out the 2025-26 regular season next Wednesday (Feb. 25) at Roberts Wesleyan in an 8 PM match up in Rochester. A win over the Redhawks would mark the second consecutive undefeated regular season for the Wildcats.