Wildcats Eliminate Hornets From USCAA National Championships For Second Straight Year (68-63)

FINAL SCORE: #1 Daemen College 68, #4 Concordia College-Alabama 63
RECORDS: Daemen College (20-8); Concordia College-Alabama (21-8)
LOCATION: Community Center Main Arena, Penn State Fayette, Uniontown, Pa.

IN BRIEF: No. 1 Daemen College eliminates No. 4 Concordia College-Alabama for second consecutive year. Guard Kyle Clifford led the Wildcat attack with 25 points on 7-10 shooting from beyond the arc. 

ON THE COURT

• Concordia College jumped out to an early 10-2 lead. 6 of the Hornets 10 points came by way of 3 Tedarius Neely layups. 
• Daemen bounced back by the 11 minute mark, reducing the Concordia lead to just 1 on a Kyle Clifford 3-pointer. 
• The 5'11 Guard from West Senaca, NY would score the next 2 possessions for the Wildcats giving Daemen a 2-point advantage with 9 minutes left in the first half.
• From that point on both teams would exchange the lead, with Daemen retaining the 1-point advantage heading into the half.
• The Wildcats jumped out the gates quickly in the second half thanks to 2015 USCAA Player of the Year and First Team All-American, Gerald Beverly.
• 2015 USCAA Honorable Mention All-American Anthony Jones answered with a layup followed by a Kendrick Atwood 3-pointer.
• Daemen answered with a pair of 3 pointers of their own by Kyle Clifford and Supreme Hannah.
• Daemen would retain a 3 possession lead for the majority of the second half until 7:20 left when Concordia reduced their deficit to just 4 points.
• Daemen would retain their lead throughout the remainder of the game. Their lead was threatened with :27 left in the game on a made 3-pointer by 2015 First Team All-American Dennis Miles
• Supreme Hannah sealed the game for the Wildcats hitting 4 consecutive free throws to keep Daemen's championship hopes alive.

BEHIND THE BOXSCORE

• Dennis Miles finished the game with a double-double (19 points, 12 rebounds) leading the Hornets in both categories (Guy Barnes finished with 12 rebounds as well).
• Kendrick Atwood, Jamie Washington, and Tedarius Miles each finished with double digit scoring figures.
• Concordia dominated the glass, finishing with a +12 margin on the Wildcats (46-34).
• Both teams were outstanding from the charity stripe; Each team shot 80% or better. The Hornets also had more points in the paint.
• The difference in the game came from beyond the arc, Daemen shot a remarkable 42% from 3pt land (10-24). 7 of the 10 free throws came courtesy of Kyle Clifford who led the Daemen scoring attack (25 points).
• Gerald Beverly finished with another double-double (16 points, 12 rebounds) and added 3 blocks in the winning effort. Beverly holds the USCAA Men's Division I record for most points in a game (40) set last year against Concordia College (AL).
• Supreme Hannah finished in double figures along with Forward Jordan Greene (15 points, 10 points).

NEXT UP

Top-seeded Daemen College will advance to the finals to faceoff against the winner of Rochester College and Daemen College. Game time is scheduled for 12:30pm in the Main Arena of Penn State Fayette. Concordia College-Alabama will enter the consolation bracket to face the loser of the Rochester and Berea matchup.