AMHERST, N.Y. —The No. 21 nationally ranked Assumption University men's basketball team suffered their second loss of the season to No. 2 Daemen University 77-67, in a defensive battle in Western New York

THE BASICS:
Scores: Daemen University 77, Assumption University 67
Records: Greyhounds (7-2, 2-0 NE10) | Wildcats (13-0, 4-0 ECC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The game started slow, as the first basket was made 2:24 into the contest by Assumption's Baril Mawo. Daemen took their first lead, as Ryan Heath scored a layup, making it 4-2. With the score tied at 8-8, following a Tayeshawn Cunningham-Pemberton layup at 13:09, the Wildcats started to heat up with an 8-1 run to go up 16-9. The hosts would continue to hold the Greyhounds at a distance, and they would grow their lead to as large as eight points (38-30) at the intermission. 

Coming out of the intermission, Assumption went on a 21-12 run, powered by Zee McCown and Cunningham-Pemberton, to take their first lead at 51-50, since it was 2-1, with 6:49 left in regulation. After the two teams traded baskets over the next few minutes, Daemen would go on a 14-4 run ot go up 66-57 with 2:12 left in regulation. The Greyhounds would attempt a comeback down the stretch, but the Wildcats would go 6-of-7 from the charity stripe to pull away for a 77-67 final score. 

BY THE NUMBERS:

• Tayeshawn Cunningham-Pemberton led the way for Assumption with 17 points, with 11 points coming in the second half, while Zee McCown added 12 and three assists.
• Baril Mawo had a career-high four blocks, leading the way to seven for the Hounds. 
• Lenny Tangishaka filled the box score with eight points, eight rebounds, three steals, and two blocks.
• The Assumption defense forced 22 Daemen turnovers, the most by the Wildcats since they had 23 against St. Thomas Aquinas on Feb. 7, 2025. 
• Daemen outrebounded Assumption 47-33, but it was the Greyhounds that outscored their opposition 20-13 in second-chance points. 
• Daemen now leads the all-time series 2-1. 

UP NEXT:

• Assumption at Nova Southeastern University, Friday, December 19, 12:00 pm.   
• Daemen vs. Saint Michael's College, Saturday, December 20, 12:00 pm. 

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