Daemen College Earns First USCAA Men's Division I Basketball National Championship

RECORDS: Daemen College 21-10, Rochester College 22-11

LOCATION: USCAA 2015 Basketball National Championship, Uniontown, Pennsylvania

IN BRIEF:  Top seeded Daemen College Wildcats have earned their first USCAA Basketball National Championship by defeating the third seeded Rochester College Warriors, 77-53. USCAA Player of the Year, Gerald Beverly, was named the 2015 Men's Division I Basketball National Championship Most Valuable Player. Beverly led the Wildcats with a game-high 19 points on 9 of 11 shooting while adding a game-high 8 rebounds.  With the 8 rebounds, Beverly also recorded his 1,000^th career rebound.

ON THE COURT: It was a game of runs and hot shooting for the Daemen College Wildcats that began early and hit often as they shot 54% (31-57) for the game and 48% (11-23) from beyond the arc.  Each team began the game by trading baskets, until Gerald Beverley's first half dunk sparked a Wildcat 15-2 run to take a 20-7 lead with 13 minutes remaining in the half.  Rochester College quickly responded with an old fashioned 3-point play by 2^nd Team All-American, Nick Tatu, and a put back slam from Jeroen De Batt. However, the Wildcats put together another run of 10-0 that was capped off with a Jordan Greene 3-point shot to take a commanding 30-12 lead.

For the half, Daemen shot 17of 29 from the field, which included 7 of 14 from the 3-point line.  They also controlled the backboard as they held a 19 to 7 rebound advantage that turned into 29 second chance points.

Second half action featured more of the same as the Daemen College Wildcats used one last big run of 13-2 midway through the half to increase their lead to 36 and ultimately put the game away.

Including Gerald Beverly, the Daemen College Wildcats had five different players score in double figures.  Chipping in with 16 points and 5 rebounds was Jesse Lalka while Kyle Clifford recorded 14, Supreme Hannah had 11, and Jordan Greene finished with 10 points.

Pacing Rochester College was Nick Tatu who finished with 16 points and 3 rebounds.

2015 USCAA All-Tournament Team

2015 USCAA All-Tournament Most Valuable Player

Past USCAA Champions