The game went back and forth at the start with the visiting Wildcats (12-4, 0-1 AMC) holding a 7-6 edge at the 13:54 mark after a layup by Ajay Rutledge.

Then, MVNU (11-5, 1-1 AMC) rattled off nine straight points to take a 15-7 lead with 11:18 left before the half. Junior wing Travis Brown came off the bench to score four quick points, while senior guard Ben Falkenberg nailed a three-pointer.

With the Cougars leading 25-17 after a three-pointer by senior forward Matt McKinley, Daemen used a 9-2 run to close the gap to 27-26 by the 6:35 mark as Devon Dawson scored four points and Pete Loney nailed a three-pointer.

A three-pointer by senior guard Dan Borcherdt and a basket each by junior post Bryce Sanborn (left) and sophomore forward Adam Grimm pushed MVNU back on top 34-26 with 4:37 left in the half.

Once again, the Wildcats battled back as seven points by Dawson and a three-pointer by Looney with seven seconds left pulled Daemen within 42-40 as the teams went to the locker rooms at the break.

Senior forward Jadin Thomas paced the Cougars with 12 points and seven rebounds in the first half, while Falkenberg added seven points and four assists. MVNU shot 54.8 percent from the field (17-for-31), 50.0 percent from three-point range (5-for-10), and 75.0 percent from the free throw line (3-for-4). The Cougars also posted a 20-10 advantage in rebounds.

Loney nailed four first-half three-pointers to total 14 points, while Dawson added 11 points. The Wildcats shot 55.2 percent from the field (16-for-29), 54.5 percent from three-point range (6-for-11), and 40.0 percent from the free throw line (2-for-5). Daemen committed just six turnovers in the first half.

The game went back and forth to start the second half as there were five ties and five lead changes with the score knotted at 56-56 at the 11:52 mark.

Over the next 5:08, MVNU went on a 9-0 run as the Wildcats went 0-for-6 from the field committed two turnovers as the Cougars built a 65-56 advantage.

After Daemen finally scored and pulled within 65-60 with 6:25 to play, MVNU then went on a 16-1 to close the game as Falkenberg and Sanborn both scored seven points and sophomore wing Tim Radcliffe made a basket to make the final score 81-61 in favor of the Cougars.

“We needed a real big win to get our confidence back and tonight was that win,” said MVNU coach Scott Flemming. “This is something to build on. Our post players were outstanding tonight. Jadin owned the boards and Bryce was not far behind him.”

“Our zone was very effective, especially in the second half,” said Flemming as his defense allowed just 25.8 percent shooting in the second half (8-for-31). “Any time you can hold a team like (Daemen) to 25 percent shooting you have played at a high level of defense. Now, we have to get right back at it tomorrow.”

Thomas (right) led the Cougars with 15 points, a career-high 17 rebounds, and three blocked shots, while Falkenberg tossed in 19 points to go with six assists. Borcherdt also contributed 11 points, while Sanborn just missed a double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds. MVNU shot 47.7 percent from the field (31-for-65), 38.5 percent from three-point range (10-for-26), and 69.2 percent from the free throw line (9-for-13).

Daemen was led by Loney and Rutledge with 14 points apiece. Dawson added 11 points, and D.J. Johnson finished with 10 points. Ryan Henry also had eight points and eight assists. The Wildcats shot 40.0 percent from the field (24-for-60), 40.0 percent from three-point range (8-for-20), and 55.6 percent from the free throw line.

The Cougars will not have much time to celebrate this win as MVNU will host Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.) College in another AMC contest that will begin at 1:00 p.m.