BUFFALO, NY - The Villa Maria Vikings stormed back from an 18-point second half deficit as sophomore Justin Stokes (Buffalo, NY/Middle Early College) capped the comeback with a layup through traffic with 2.9 seconds left to lift the Vikings to a 73-71 victory over the University of Maine Presque Isle on Sunday afternoon at the Villa Athletic Center.

Stokes, who scored 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting, took a pass outside the paint, put a move on a defender in the lane and finished with the left hand.  Villa (7-17, 5-4) shot 45 percent in the second half and held the Owls to just 28 percent from the floor.

After trailing by 16, 41-25 at halftime, the Vikings fell behind by 18 early in the second half before ripping off a 13-2 run to get within seven.  Villa was able to battle back and tie the game 3:57 left after freshman Donte Campbell (Buffalo, NY/Huch Tech) finished a layup in the lane.  That started a seven-point run, all scored by Campbell, as Villa jumped ahead by five with 1:34 left.  

After a steal by Maine's Derek Healy with 18.9 seconds left, he converted the fast break layup while getting fouled.  Healy made the free throw to tie the game and give Stokes and the Vikings the last shot with the game tied.

Stokes scored 12 of his 19 points in the second half 4-of-5 from the floor and knocked down his only three-point attempt.  Campbell scored a game-high 21 points.  

Maine Presque Isle (7-9) entered the game ranked 14th in the latest USCAA II Coaches Poll.  The Vikings were able to even the season-series with the Owls after they took a 74-68 overtime contest back on Dec. 31 in Maine.

Villa freshman Dominic Douglas (Bainbridge, GA/Bainbridge) scored 13 points while fellow freshman Darius Huggins added 6 points, 11 rebounds and 7 blocks.

Villa is next in action on Thursday, Jan. 21 in Olean when they take on Jamestown Community College at 6 p.m.