Uniontown, PA – In the most exciting game of the season, the (3) Villa Maria Vikings used everything they had, besting (6) Penn State Greater Allegheny 106-101 in a triple-overtime thriller Thursday afternoon to advance to the National Final Four.  The Vikings overcame an eight-point deficit in the final two minutes of regulation to come out on top and advance to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National Semifinals for the first time in school history.  They will take on seventh-seeded Warren Wilson College on Friday afternoon at 3 p.m.
 
Villa's Dominic Douglas led all scorers with 35 points, playing 54 of 55 possible minutes.  The junior was 13-of-16 from the free throw line and had eight of his 35 in the overtime period.  With 30 seconds left in regulation, Douglas connected on an elbow jumper while being fouled to cut the deficit from four to one.  After Penn State hit one of two at the line moments later to increase the lead to two, Villa had possession with a chance to tie or win the game.
 
Sophomore Daniel Thompson had a clean look from beyond the arc with seven seconds left, but after the ball hit off the side of the rim, the rebound was tipped around before it was tipped in by Villa's Jay Scarbrough with 2.5 seconds left to tie the game at 78.  Douglas then blocked the last second layup attempt to send the game into overtime.
 
Villa scored the first four points of the overtime period as Scarbrough connected on two free throws made a layup off a pass from Scarbrough.  After Penn State closed to within one, Douglas hit another mid-range jumper to push the lead back to three with 2:53 left.  Penn State then responded with six straight to grab an 89-86 lead with 32 seconds left.
 
After a timeout, the Vikings got a layup with 17 seconds left from freshman Lonnie Taylor.  Penn State then hit one of two free throws to give Villa yet another chance.  After a loose ball and scrum underneath the basket, Villa's DeJaun Owens hit an off-balance baseline jumper to tie the game and send it into another overtime period.
 
Villa once again opened with the first points as Taylor scored inside.  Villa gained a three-point edge at 96-93 with 1:13 remaining before Penn State's Jordan Payne drilled a triple from the left corner to tie the game at 96 with 40 seconds left.  Each team then had a possession to try and win but both came up empty, prompting the third extra period.
 
This period saw Penn State open with the first points as they scored the first four with baskets by Payne and Curtis Newby.  Douglas then hit two free throws on the ensuing possession to cut the deficit in half, before Thompson tied the game at 100 with a crafty move in the paint. 
 
Penn State then converted one of two at the free throw line before Thompson gave the game it's final lead change with another basket inside.  Villa then forced a miss resulting in another mid-range jumper by Douglas. 
 
With a chance to tie the game, Penn State turned the ball over with 14 seconds left when a cross-court pass was intercepted by DeJaun Owens and finished on the other end to ice the game.
Owens and Taylor each scored 17 points for Villa with Taylor grabbing 12 rebounds for his xxth double-double of the season and Owens securing eight.  Each finished with two blocks, as did Douglas.
 
Thompson chipped in 15 off the bench to go along with four assists three steals and three rebounds, while Scarbrough finished with 11 points, nine boards, four helpers, three blocks and a steal.  Kevin Ford led the team with seven dimes off the bench and also added five rebounds and two points.
 
Senior Justin Stokes finished with six points and three assists and Jonathan Pozo had three points and seven board.
 
Penn State came into the game led by Jordan Payne averaging 20 points per game.  He finished with a team-high 32 but took 38 shots, connecting on just 11.  Villa held him to 6-of-20 shooting from beyond the arc.  He played 53 of a possible 55 minutes.  Newby finished with a double-double, scoring 18 points and securing 15 boards.
 
Villa opened the game with two straight lay-ups from Taylor and Stokes before jumping out to a 12-2 lead.  They led 20-6 at the 11:12 mark of the first half but Penn State was able to chip away, cutting the once 14-point deficit down to five with 5:04 left and one (30-29) with 1:08 left.  Villa scored the last four points of the half to take a five-point advantage into the locker room.
 
Penn State was able to tie the game at 36 at the 17:28 mark of the second half after a made three by Kenneth Rouse.  Rouse then gave Penn State the lead 34 seconds later.  They increased the lead to six (44-38) moments later.  The two teams traded baskets for the next several minutes before Villa eventually tied the game at 59 with 7:28 left.
 
They couldn't hold the lead however as Penn State scored the next nine points to lead 68-59 with 4:44 left.  Taylor then scored inside for the Vikings before Douglas hit a pair of free throws.  Despite the efforts of Villa, Penn State was still able to control the momentum, leading 75-67 with 1:49 left before Scarbrough got his own rebound and scored inside.
 
After a stop, Owens drove in the lane and finished over two defenders to get with four.  Villa then forced another miss which led to a run-out and a fast-break score from Pozo.  Penn State then hit two free throws before Douglas hit the "And-one" to get within one.
 
The Vikings are now set to do battle with the Owls of Warren Wilson who upset second-seeded Central Penn College on Thursday afternoon.  A trip to the National Championship Game will be on the line.

BOX SCORE
Villa Maria Vikings (25-5, 6-0)                             34 - 44 - 12 - 6 - 10 -- 81
Penn State Greater Allegheny (19-8, 13-3)         29 - 49 - 12 - 6 - 5 -- 72

INSIDE THE BOX
* Villa finished with 25 assists on 39 made baskets
* The Vikings shot 42.9 percent for the game and held PSUGA to 39.4 percent
* Villa had 10 blocks
* PSGA had just 12 turnovers while Villa had 15
* Villa held an advantage in bench points (28-22)
* Villa had 23 second chance points… PSUGA had 20
* Villa out-rebounded PSUGA 66-59
* Villa held PSUGA to 9-35 shooting from beyond the arc
* Each team held a double-figure lead… Villa (14) PSUGA (10)
* There were eight ties and six lead changes

WHAT THEY SAID
HC Don Silveri: "What a game to be a part of.  Both teams fought unbelievably hard.  Credit to Penn State and their players.  I'm so proud of our guys and the way we fought.  Our backs were against the wall a number of times and we persevered as a team.  We're looking forward to another test tomorrow and another chance to work towards our goal."

UP NEXT
Villa will take on seventh-seeded Warren Wilson College in the National Semifinal.  Warren Wilson upset second-seeded Central Penn College in the Elite 8 Thursday afternoon.  Friday's tip is set for 3:00 p.m. in the Main Arena.

FOLLOW THE VIKINGS
Follow the Vikings on Twitter (@VillaVikings), Facebook (Facebook.com/villavikings) and Instagram (@villavikings) for all news, stats, scores, stories and more to keep up to date on all things Villa athletics. Go Vikings!