BUFFALO, NY - The Villa Maria College Vikings shot a red-hot 66.7 percent from the floor and topped the century mark as they picked up their first USCAA II Conference victory, 104-87 over the SUNY Delhi Broncos on Sunday afternoon at the Villa Athletic Center.

Sophomore guard DeJaun Owens (Buffalo, NY/Tapestry) led Villa with 26 points while freshman Eric Waters (Buffalo, NY/Oracle) continued his stellar and efficient play, scoring 23 in 23 minutes.  Villa shot a season-best 72.4 percent from the field in the first half and finished the game with a program-best shooting percentage.

The Vikings raced out to a 13-4 lead early and had a double-digit lead less than 10 minutes into the game.  The lead ballooned to as many as 16 in the first half but the Broncos were able to string together multiple scoring possessions in a row and closed the half on a 8-0 run to cut the deficit to just seven at the break despite being out-shot by nearly 30 percent.

Villa continued its hot shooting in the second half, scoring the first eight points of the half.  Sophomore forward Dominic Douglas (Bainbridge, GA/Bainbridge) hit a foul line jumper before junior Justin Stokes (Buffalo, NY/Middle Early College) scored in the paint.  Douglas then scored the next two baskets both on fast-break layups off of turnovers.  But Delhi once again would not go away, ripping off a 23-7 run to take a 68-67 lead with 10:50 left.  Owens then put home a catch-and-shoot triple to retake the lead.  This was the final lead change of the game.

Waters followed the three by Owens with a layup in the lane before Stokes put home a free throw to extend the lead to five.  Senior guard Darale Young (Buffalo, NY/NYIT), who finished with a season-high eight points, then pushed the lead to eight with a nifty crossover dribble and layup.  

After Delhi was once again able to get with four with 5:10 left, Waters scored four straight before Stokes pushed the lead to 10 and put the final touch on the win.  Villa closed the game on a 23-10 run, scoring in triple-digits for the third time this season.

Freshman Gerald Bibbs added 16 points and six rebounds for Villa as well.  The Vikings had 28 assists on 42 baskets with sophomore Jayson Moore (Buffalo, NY/Sweet Home) tallying eight.  Young added six assists and five rebounds to go along with eight points while Stokes stuffed the stat sheet with four assists, four blocks, four steals and three rebounds.  Waters led Villa with seven rebounds as the Vikings won the battle on the boards, 40-36.  The Vikings also scored 64 points in the paint to Delhi's 46, and also out-scored the Broncos in fast break points (16-12) and bench points (38-30).

The Broncos came into the game winners of three consecutive games and has already picked up three USCAA II victories.  Senior David Haye led all scorers with 33 points, while Hamed Guitti scored 24.

Villa is back in action on Saturday, December 10th when they take part in the Tom D'Angelo Memorial Tournament hosted by Jamestown Community College.  They will take on the Community College of Beaver County on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Westmoreland Community College on Sunday at 1 p.m.

For all updates on the Vikings and the Villa athletic program, follow the Vikings on Twitter (@VillaVikings).