BUFFALO, NY - On a night where the Villa Maria College men's basketball team was honored with a banner unveiling ceremony for it's 2016-17 postseason accomplishments, the team opened it's 2017-18 campaign with a fury, dominating the Penn State New Kensington Lions 95-60 on Friday night as a part of the Villa Maria Tip-Off Classic.

The Vikings used a monster first half to gain a 26-point halftime lead.  After scoring the game's first five points, the two teams traded baskets until the Vikings used a 22-0 run to lead 39-13 with 3:10 left in the half.  Villa held Penn State scoreless for nearly 10 minutes of game time.  Villa held Penn State to 28.6 percent shooting in the first half and forced 13 turnovers.

Villa junior forward Dominic Douglas (Bainbridge, GA/Bainbridge High School) led all scorers with 19 points.  He recorded his second-career double-double with 11 rebounds as well.  Freshman forward Lonnie Taylor (Medina, NY/Medina High School) recorded a double-double in his first career game with 14 points and 15 rebounds.  He had nine points and 10 boards at halftime.

BOX SCORE
Villa Maria Vikings (1-0)                       47 - 48 -- 95
Penn State New Kensington (0-1)       21 - 39 -- 60

INSIDE THE BOX
* Villa finished with 22 assists on 33 made baskets
* The Vikings shot 71.9 percent from the free throw line
* Douglas led Villa with 19 points and 11 rebounds for his second career double-double
* Villa outscored Penn State 48-24 in the paint
* Junior DeJaun Owens (Buffalo, NY/Tapestry Charter School) led the team with four made triples. Finished with 15 points
* Villa forced 27 Penn State turnovers that led directly to 30 points
* Junior Justin Stokes (Buffalo, NY/Middle Early College) scored 16 points and had a team-high seven assists
* Villa had 20 steals and were paced by junior Jay Scarbrough (Niagara Falls, NY/Cayuga Community College) with seven
* Villa had 20 fast break points to Penn State's two
* Freshman Jason Dowell (Buffalo, NY/Emerson High School) and sophomore Daniel Thompson (Brooklyn, NY/St. Thomas University) each scored seven points off the bench
* Junior Jonathan Pozo (Bronx, NY/Erie Community College) chipped in six points off the bench

WHAT THEY SAID
HC Don Silveri: "It was good to start our season with a win.  We still have a lot of work to do and a lot to clean up but our guys were able to play together and come out strong and help us get a win.  We have a tough test tomorrow against Madonna, a team that will make us pay for our success.  We have to come out focused and ready to compete for 40 minutes."

UP NEXT
Villa will take on Madonna University (MI.) at 4 p.m. in the final game of the Villa Maria Tip-Off Classic.  Madonna is currently 4-0 and defeated Kent State University at Tuscarawas 115-55 on Friday evening.  Madonna and Villa are two of three Franciscan Universities/Colleges.

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