After the visiting Wildcats (3-2) scored the first basket of the game for a 2-0 lead, MVNU (6-0) went on a 24-9 run to take a 24-11 with 6:08 left in the first half. Senior post Connor Gregg led the surge with eight points, while junior guard Ben Falkenberg and junior forward Jadin Thomas (left) each added six points apiece.

The Cougars’ lead grew to as much as 14 points on three occasions and Daemen also pulled as close as 10 points twice before MVNU took a 39-27 lead to the locker room at the half following an offensive rebound and putback by sophomore center Bryce Sanborn.

Gregg led the Cougars with 10 first-half points and five rebounds, while junior wing Andy Francis added nine points and four assists. Falkenberg also tossed in eight points, and junior guard Dan Borcherdt handed out four assists. MVNU shot 57.1 percent from the field (16-for-28), 30.0 percent from three-point range (3-for-10), and 80.0 percent from the free throw line (8-for-10). The Cougars also held a 20-15 rebounding advantage.

Devon Dawson paced the Wildcats with eight points in the first half, while Dewan Stroud added six points and four rebounds. Daemen shot 34.6 percent from the field (9-for-26), 15.4 percent from three-point range (2-for-13), and 43.8 percent at the free throw line (7-for-16). The Wildcats took good care of the basketball with just three turnovers.

Daemen pulled within 40-31 as Dawson and Ryan Henry each made a basket to start the second half. However, MVNU answered with a 19-9 run to expand its lead to 59-40 with 10:03 left in the game. Thomas led the way with eight points, while Francis tossed in five points.

From that point on, the Cougars led by at least 14 points as MVNU posted the 80-63 non-conference victory.

“This was another great defensive effort tonight,” said Flemming as the Cougars held Daemen 34 points below its scoring average of 97.0 coming into the game. “We did a nice job both inside the paint and on the perimeter. Jadin and Connor controlled both ends inside. They are getting better every game we play. I thought Dan did a great job of handling the defensive pressure of their quick guards. This was another complete team effort.”

“As far as milestones, I think of all the years I’ve been coaching and all the great players I’ve had through the years,” said Flemming as he improved to 400-256 in 21 years as a head coach including 357-209 in 18 seasons at MVNU. “I think that most coaches would say that the players should share in these accomplishments.”

Francis (right) finished with a career-high 19 points as he went 8-for-9 from the field including 3-for-4 from three-point range to go with six rebounds and a career-high four assists. Thomas also had a career-high 17 points with six rebounds, and Gregg posted a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds. Falkenberg tossed in 15 points with three assists, and Borcherdt dished out seven assists. Junior forward Matt McKinley also grabbed a career-high seven rebounds off the bench. The Cougars shot 56.9 percent from the field (29-for-51), 41.2 percent from three-point range (7-for-17), and 68.2 percent from the free throw line (15-for-22). MVNU also out-rebounded the Wildcats 40-30.

Dawson was the lone Daemen player to reach double figures as he finished with 18 points and eight rebounds. Henry added nine points, seven assists, and five rebounds off the bench, and Stroud and Steve Kozaczka each tossed in eight points apiece. The Wildcats shot 36.5 percent from the field (23-for-63), 22.6 percent from three-point range (7-for-31), and 45.5 percent from the free throw line (10-for-22).

The Cougars will return to action on Tuesday when MVNU will travel to Malone College (5-3) for a non-conference game that will begin at 7:30 p.m.