ROCHESTER, N.Y. — For the second consecutive season, the No. 4 ranked Daemen University men's basketball team (28-1, 16-0 ECC) put together an undefeated East Coast Conference regular season record, closing out the final game before the postseason with an 89-73 victory at Roberts Wesleyan (7-17, 5-10 ECC) on Wednesday night at the Voller Athletic Center. The Wildcats, who have a 56-2 overall record and 32-0 record in conference play over the past two seasons, become the first ECC team to register back-to-back unbeaten ECC regular seasons since Philadelphia University in 1993-94. Daemen is riding a 38-game win streak in ECC action, dating back to Feb. 11, 2024. Sitting at the top of the East Region in the latest NCAA regional rankings, released today, the top-seeded Wildcats return to Lumsden Gymnasium next weekend to host the 2026 ECC Tournament. 

Of the seven Wildcats that scored tonight, the five starters all finished with double-digit points, led by 21-point performances from both Zach Philipkoski (New Hartford, N.Y.) and Justin Hemphill (Buffalo, N.Y.). Daemen finished the game scoring 53.3 percent from the field, marking the 12th game this season that the Wildcats shot 50 percent or better. Giving up 70+ points for just the eighth time all year, the stingy Daemen defense held the Redhawks to shoot 39.3 percent from the field and just 29.6 percent beyond the arc. 

IMPACT PLAYERS

• Philipkoski totaled 21 points, marking the 12th -- and third straight -- game this season that he scored 20+. The 6-foot-4 junior guard shot 61.5 percent from the field, knocking down 8-of-13 and led the Wildcats with four triples on the night along with seven rebounds, two assists and one steal. 
• Playing in his final regular season game of his illustrious career, Hemphill totaled 21 points after banking 9-of-16 field goals and two three pointers, adding four defensive boards, a team-high six assists, two steals and one block. 
• Redshirt junior Benjamin Bill (Hamburg, N.Y.) tallied his seventh double-double of the year, totaling 16 points and a team-high 11 rebounds. The 2025 ECC Player of the Year shot 60 percent (6-of-10) on the night and contributed three assists and two steals. 
• Senior Justin Glover (Buffalo, N.Y.) finished with 14 points off three triples and two field goals while shooting 50 percent on the night, adding five rebounds, two steals and a block. 
• Junior Ryan Heath (Rochester, N.Y.) posted 10 points after leading the Wildcats at the line with six free throws. The guard added three assists, two steals and two rebounds to his night. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Daemen took control early in the first half with a strong offensive start, jumping out to a 9-0 lead thanks to Hemphill's layups and a three-pointer by Philipkoski at the 18:23 mark. Benjamin Bill added to the momentum with consecutive free throws, extending Daemen's lead to 13-0 by 15:46.
• Roberts Wesleyan struggled defensively, committing multiple turnovers, which allowed the Wildcats to maintain the advantage. Despite a late push from Roberts Wesleyan, including a triple at the 3:30 mark, Daemen closed the half leading 40-32.
• The Wildcats widened their lead early in the second half with a layup by Philipkoski at 19:51, assisted by Hemphill. Despite a strong start to the second half for the Cats, the Redhawks clawed their way back into the game, bringing the score within five points at 13:53. Over the next five and a half minutes of game time, Daemen put together a 17-5 run after knocking down 6-of-7 from the field to put the Wildcats handily out front, 66-49. 
• Despite Roberts Wesleyan putting together a solid second half, Daemen maintained control throughout the rest of the game and never let the Redhawks closer than 13 points down the stretch. Glover sealed the seal with a triple with 34 seconds left to finish the game with a 16-point advantage. 

GAME NOTES

• The Wildcats have won 33 of the last 34 match ups with the Redhawks. Daemen owns a 55-12 all-time record over their longtime I-90 rivals.
• Daemen never trailed in tonight's victory, leading for 99 percent of the game, 39:35 of 40 total game minutes. 
• The Cats defeated Roberts Wesleyan in every facet of the game tonight, out-shooting them 32 to 24, out-rebounding 37 to 35, out-blocking 4 to 2, and posting 44 points in the paint compared to just 26 for the Redhawks. 
• This is the second consecutive season that the Wildcats posted a 28-1 record.
• Daemen is ranked No. 4 in the latest NABC coaches' poll, marking the 26th 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.
• Daemen's stingy defense includes the best shot-blocking numbers in Division II, averaging 6.0 blocks per contest. They also own a +10.0 rebounding margin per game (fourth in Division II) and are holding opponents to just 39.5 percent field-goal shooting (ninth in Division II). 
• Daemen's 28 wins are the most in the country. The Wildcats are one of just four Division II teams with one or fewer losses. 
• The Wildcats have won 38 straight ECC games dating back to Feb. 11, 2024.
• Since the start of the 2024-25 season, the Wildcats have posted a 56-2 record. 
• The Wildcats won their second consecutive ECC regular season, marking the fourth in program history. 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.
• 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.
• Daemen is averaging 83.0 points per game this season while holding their opponents to an average of 66.1 points per game.
• The Wildcats have an average margin of victory of 22.6 points in ECC contests and has won each game by at least eight points.