HAMILTON, ON, CANADA - The Villa Maria College men's basketball program had a chance to hit the floor for the first time as a team this season as they took an exhibition trip north of the border this past weekend.  The Vikings took part in two games against Redeemer University College and Mohawk College of the Ontario Collegiate Athletic Association (OCAA) on Friday and Saturday.

The Vikings defeated Redeemer 95-87 on Friday and followed that with a 99-85 victory over Mohawk on Saturday.  Redeemer finished last season on top of the West Division standings with a 19-1 overall record.  Mohawk finished with a 10-10 record, finishing in the middle of the pack of the West.

"It was great for our guys to get on the floor together and battle and compete against another team," Villa Head Coach Don Silveri said.  "Our defense was an afterthought for most of the trip.  We have to continue to work on that end of the floor.  But I thought we really competed and our effort was there.  It's always there and that's something you can't teach."

The Vikings are coming off a 26-6 campaign which saw them finish as the National Runners-Up.  They will open up the regular season on November 2nd against Fisher College (MA) at 8 p.m. inside the Villa Athletic Center as part of the Villa Tip-Off Classic.

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