BUFFALO, NY - The Villa Vikings closed the game on a 14-6 run which was enough to squeak out a 69-62 victory over SUNY Environmental Sciences (0-1) and Forestry to open it's inagural season on Friday, October 30th at the Villa Athletic Center.

Sophomore Justin Stokes (Buffalo, NY/Middle Early College) and freshman Donte Campbell (Buffalo, NY/Huch Tech) led all scorers with 17 points each, while freshman Malcolm Hendrick (Buffalo,NY/Cardoza) was also in double figures with 13 points for Villa (1-0).  Stokes was 7-of-9 from the floor and added five rebounds and four steals.

The Vikings recovered from a poor shooting first half to shoot 48.6 percent in the second half while holding ESF to just 37.8 percent in the second half, an 36.9 percent for the game.

"We finished the game on a positive note and came up with come key plays to help us get a win," head coach Don Silveri said.  "We still have a lot of work to do but it's always good when you can get your season, and in this case, a program, started with a win."

Stokes scored the first two points of the game and junior Andre Diggs (Bronx, NY/Erie Community) added a triple shortly after.  Hendrick followed with a jumper to help Villa get out an early 7-2 lead.  The two teams traded backets before ESF tied the game at 14.  Freshman guard Ivan Harris (Buffalo,NY/Performing Arts) broke that tie with a jumper in the lane two possessions later.

ESF was able to take it's first lead of the game at 18-17 with two free throws from Kyler Brown, but it was Campbell who answered with a jumper from the wing coming off a pass from Stokes to quickly regain the edge.  Kirby Driscoll (Angola, NY/Lakeshore) scored the final bucket of the half with three seconds left to give Villa a 24-22 lead at the break.  Eight different Vikings scored in the first half.

Villa extended it's lead to six with 15:31 left in the second half after Stokes connected on a scoop shot in the lane.  Driscoll kept that lead at six when he finished after a nice pass from sophomore point guard Jayson Moore (Amherst, NY/Sweet Home).  Moore finished with eight assists in 35 minutes.  

The Vikings were then held scoreless for 3:31 as ESF went on an 8-0 run to take a two-point lead, 48-46.  Hendrick stopped the run and tied the game at 48.  Jared Bard gave ESF the lead once again with a layup in the lane with 4:06 left.  Down 56-55, freshman center Darius Huggins (Buffalo, NY/Lackawanna) gave the lead back to Villa, this time for good.  Campbell put the finishing touches on the win, completing a three point play with 1:08 left to extend the lead to five.

Ryan Caldwell led ESF with 16 points and 17 rebounds while Bard netted 14.

Villa forced 26 turnovers and turned those in 18 points.  They outscored the Mighty Oaks 40-36 in the paint and also held the edge in fast break (14-8) and bench (28-16) points.  

UP NEXT: 10/31 vs. SUNY Delhi @ 6:00 PM

GAME NOTES: Head Coach Don Silveri picked up his 585th career victory... There were eight lead changes and the score was tied seven times... Villa led for 29:14... The largest lead for Villa was seven... 11 players saw action for the Vikings... The Vikings racked up 13 steals, led by four from Justin Stokes.