East Coast Conference: Season 2025-26
East Coast Conference 2025-26
East Coast Conference Final: Daemen College - Roberts Wesleyan University 86-66 Daemen College (Mike MacDonald): Zach Philipkoski, Benjamin Bill, Phil Nwugwo, Ryan Heath, Justin Glover, Pat Rouse, Justin Hemphill, Jaiden Harrison, Nakyhi Harris, Ronnie Williams, Ivan Yhomby, Santana Sinvilcin, Jackson Kulik, Josh Haskell, Ayden Harrison, Benjamin Guy, Jaymeir Goosby Standings 2025-26
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Team
W-L
ECC
- qualified to the play-offs Stats Leaders 2025-26
PPG
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
 Staten Island  Daemen College - East Coast Conference Champions 2025-26
Left: Ryan Grandits (coach Point Park University)
Average Height: 193.9 cm (6'4.3'')
Average Age: 25.0
 Daemen captures second straight Men's Basketball title Sunday with win over Roberts Wesleyan-Mar 9, 2026
The Daemen University Men’s Basketball team punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, as the Wildcats (30-1) defeated sixth-seeded Roberts Wesleyan (10-17) 86-66 in the title game of the 2026 East Coast Conference (ECC) Men’s Basketball tournament. The Wildcats, playing as the top-seed and hosts, will find out their opponent later Sunday night during the selection show. Daemen, ranked fourth nationally, is ranked first in the region and is expected to host the East Regional later this week. Benjamin Bill (6'10''-C) led all scorers with 23 points and was named as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. Zach Philipkoski (6'4''-G) had 16 points while Phil Nwugwo (6'6''-F) added in 13. The Wildcats shot 32-for-63 (50.8 percent) from the field in the game. Ryan Heath (5'11''-G) also scored 12 points in the win. Roberts Wesleyan, who made the conference final as a sixth seed, got 22 points from Collin Woods (6'5''-G/F) and 18 points from Mohamed Soumahoro (6'6''-F). Jordan Brown had 14 points Daemen took the early lead in the contest, going up 9-4 with 16:33 left on a three-pointer by Philipkoski. Leading 9-6, the Wildcats went on a 14-6 run over a span of 5:57 capped by a layup from Nwugwo to go up 21-10 with 9:34 left in the first half. The lead got as high as 20 points in the first half at 41-21 on a three-pointer by Harris with 2:52 to go. Leading 45-28 at intermission, Daemen’s lead only went down to 11 at 56-45 with 11:32 left in the second half as Roberts got a foul shot from Jordan Brown. The Wildcats, who won the title for the second straight season, had a 44-22 edge on the glass with Philipkoski and Hemphill each grabbing eight rebounds. Philipkoski also had six assists on the night. Philipkoski and Hemphill joined Woods and Brown on the All-Tournament team. D'Youville's Elisha Warren (6'3''-G) and St. Thomas Aquinas' Starrell Hearns (6'3''-G) were also named to the All-Tournament team. Courtesy of eccsports.org Final: Daemen - Roberts Wesleyan 86-66 Semis: Daemen - D'Youville 73-59 St. Thomas Aquinas - Roberts Wesleyan 62-76  All-ECC Awards 2026-Mar 9, 2026
 Zach Philipkoski, guard from the Daemen College, was selected as the Player of the Year at the NCAA Division II.
He received multiple other awards, was named to the First Team and Tournament Team.
With Philipkoski's excellent performance, the Daemen College achieved the best record of the season in the league, finishing with an impressive 28 to 1 in the regular season.
Philipkoski averaged almost 19 points and over 7 rebounds per game in the league.
He has totalled 12 games of 20 or more points and recorded double-doubles in 3 games on the year.
Philipkoski's 28 points against Staten Island were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
Philipkoski's team won the ECC Tournament in 2025.
Benjamin Bill, center from the Daemen College, was honored as the All-Tournament MVP of NCAA Division II.
He collected multiple other honors, earned a spot in the First Team and Tournament Team.
Bill registered almost 15 points and 8 rebounds per game that season in the league.
He has totalled 4 games of 20 or more points and had double-doubles in 5 games on the year.
Bill's 25 points against Charleston were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
Among many awards Bill's team won the ECC Tournament in 2025.
He was also selected as the All-ECC Player of the Year in 2025.
Bill was selected to the D2CCA All-East Region First Team in 2025.
He was also selected to the D2CCA All-America Third Team in 2025.
Justin Hemphill, forward from the Daemen College, earned the Defensive Player of the Year at the NCAA Division II.
He received multiple other awards, was voted to the First Team and Tournament Team.
Hemphill recorded over 12 points and 8 rebounds per game over the season in the league.
He has totalled 3 games of 20 or more points and logged double-doubles in 7 games on the year.
Hemphill's 23 points against the Adelphi were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
Hemphill's team won the ECC Tournament in 2025.
Aaron Goldstein, guard from the Staten Island Dolphins, was selected to the First Team of NCAA Division II.
He averaged almost 22 points and 4 assists per game in the league.
Goldstein has totalled 12 games of 20 or more points on the year and registered 30 or more points in 4 games.
He notched double-doubles in 2 games during the event.
Goldstein's 40 points against Tampa were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
Goldstein's team was the regular season runner-up in the ECC in 2024.
Starrell Hearns, guard from the St.
Thomas Aquinas College, was chosen to the First Team at the NCAA Division II.
He was also named to the Tournament Team.
Hearns recorded over 19 points and 5 rebounds per game that season in the league.
He has totalled 3 games of 20 or more points on the year.
Hearns' 27 points against the Roberts Wesleyan University were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
Among many awards Hearns' team won the CACC North Division Regular Season in 2024.
Hearns was selected to the All-CACC Third Team between 2024 and 2025.
Derrick James, guard from the St.
Thomas Aquinas College, earned a spot in the First Team of NCAA Division II.
He registered over 12 points and almost 4 assists per game over the season in the league.
James' 22 points against the Roberts Wesleyan University were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
Among many awards he played in the final of the ECC Tournament in 2025.
He was selected to the All-PSAC West Division Second Team in 2024.
James was also selected to the ECC All-Tournament Team in 2025.
All-Tournament MVP:  Benjamin Bill (6'10''-C) of DaemenPlayer of the Year: Zach Philipkoski (6'4''-G) of DaemenDefensive Player of the Year: Justin Hemphill (6'6''-F-2001) of DaemenCo-Rookie of the Year:  Oliver Spence (6'10''-C/F) of UDCCo-Rookie of the Year: Sean Reynolds (6'1''-G) of D'YouvilleCoach of the Year: Mike MacDonald of Daemen All-ECC First Team 2026  Bill Goldstein  Hearns  Hemphill  James  Philipkoski Benjamin Bill (6'10''-C) of Daemen Aaron Goldstein (6'0''-G) of Staten Island Starrell Hearns (6'3''-G) of STAC Justin Hemphill (6'6''-F-2001) of Daemen Derrick James (5'10''-G) of STAC Zach Philipkoski (6'4''-G) of DaemenAll-ECC Second Team 2026  Campbell  Chestnut  Glover  Merchant  Warren Tahj-Malik Campbell (6'6''-G) of Queens, NY JJ Chestnut (6'2''-G) of Staten Island Justin Glover (5'9''-G) of Daemen Bryce Merchant (6'5''-G) of Molloy Elisha Warren (6'3''-G) of D'YouvilleAll-ECC Third Team 2026  Green  Kopp  Rowbatham  Spence  Woods Jordan Green (6'8''-C) of STAC Dylan Kopp (6'3''-G) of Molloy Kohen Rowbatham (6'1''-G) of Mercy Oliver Spence (6'10''-C/F) of UDC Collin Woods (6'5''-G/F) of RWUECC All-Tournament Team 2026 Bill Philipkoski Hemphill Woods  Brown Warren Hearns Benjamin Bill (6'10''-C) of Daemen Zach Philipkoski (6'4''-G) of Daemen Justin Hemphill (6'6''-F-2001) of Daemen Collin Woods (6'5''-G/F) of RWU Jordan Brown (6'2''-G) of RWU Elisha Warren (6'3''-G) of D'Youville Starrell Hearns (6'3''-G) of STAC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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