BUFFALO, NY - The Villa Maria Vikings suffered their first defeat of the 2017-18 season, falling 97-76 to the University of Maine at Fort Kent in the Cole's Classic Championship game at Buffalo State, Saturday evening.

The Vikings jumped out to an early 18-7 lead but Maine answered with a 13-2 run to take a 20-19 lead.  The two teams went back and forth over the next eight minutes before Villa once again regained a four-point edge at 37-33 with 4:18 left.  From there, Maine ended the quarter on a 11-0 run to lead 44-37 at the break.

Maine extended the lead to 16 early in the second half before Villa cut it to five with 12:12 left, but Maine responded with a big run to put the game out of reach.  Junior guard DeJaun Owens (Buffalo, NY/Tapestry Charter School) led Villa with 30 points on 6-of-7 from three.

Villa falls to 5-1 on the season while Maine improves to 5-4.  The two teams will again meet on Monday, this time at Villa at 7:30 p.m.

BOX SCORE
Villa Maria Vikings (5-1, 2-0 NIAC)                56 - 42 -- 98
University of Maine at Fort Kent (5-4)            44 - 48 -- 92

WHAT THEY SAID
HC Don Silveri "Obviously we did not play our game tonight and we paid the price.  We have a quick turnaround so we won't hang our heads.  We'll get right back to the drawing board."

UP NEXT
Villa falls to 5-1 on the season while Maine improves to 5-4.  The two teams will again meet on Monday, this time at Villa at 7:30 p.m.

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