Uniontown, PA - It took another comeback, and another test of will, but the Villa Maria College men's basketball team is heading to it's first ever National Championship Game.  The third-seeded Vikings came back from 15 down to upend the seventh-seeded Warren Wilson College Owls 105-99 on Friday afternoon to put themselves in position to play for a United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National Title on Saturday evening.

Dominic Douglas scored a game-high 29, DeJaun Owens scored 28, and Jay Scarbrough chipped in 16 off the bench to lead Villa to it's second comeback in as many days.  Villa shot over 70 percent in the second half and put 66 points on the board over the final 20 minutes.  Douglas scored 20 of his 29 in the second half while Scarbrough scored all 16 of his in the final stanza.

"This game really tested our character and our mental fortitude," said Villa Head Coach Don Silveri.  "Our backs were against the wall once again and we found a way to fight through.  We got back to doing what we do best in the second half, which was getting good looks and stops when it mattered.  Our defense got us back in the game and our offense took us home."

Villa scored the first four points of the game and led 13-6 early, forcing a Warren Wilson timeout.  The Owls then went on 16-6 run to grab a 22-19 advantage.  Warren Wilson was able to increase it's lead steadily over the next few minutes, before gaining it's largest lead of the game, 42-27, with 3:02 left.  Villa was able to weather the storm and cut the deficit to just even at halftime after Douglas hit a straight-away three as the first half clock expired.

Warren Wilson opened the half with a three but Douglas scored six of Villa's first eight points of the half before Owens buried a triple to make the score 56-50 in favor of the Owls with 16:13 left.  Villa couldn't get any closer than that for the next three minutes however as the Owls stayed hot, making it difficult for the Vikings to cut into the deficit.

With 13:17 left, Douglas scored inside off a nice pass from senior Justin Stokes to get within four, 64-60.  He scored again moments later to cut that deficit in half.  Warren Wilson answered with the next four points but Villa responded six in a row of their own with baskets by Scarbrough, a fast-break lay-up from sophomore Kevin Ford, and a foul line jumper by Owens to tie the game at 68 with 9:41 left. 

It wasn't until the 8:34 mark that Villa regained it's first lead since the 11:51 mark of the first half.  After a miss inside, Scarbrough corralled the rebound and laid the ball in to give Villa a 72-70 lead.  Scarbrough then scored again on the following possession to increase the lead to four.  Villa maintained the lead and increased it to seven with 6:16 left after Douglas scored four straight points.

Warren Wilson rallied to get as close as two, but the Vikings did not cave, bumping the lead back up to six, 89-83 with 3:34 left after freshman Lonnie Taylor scored a layup in transition.  After the Owls answered with a three, Owens nailed one right back.  The Owls once again hit a three on the next possession but Villa was there again to answer the bell.  This time it was sophomore Daniel Thompson who couldn't have picked a better time to hit his only shot of the game, a three from the left wing to bump the lead back to six, 95-89 with two minutes left.  

After Warren Wilson scored a layup on the ensuing possession, Owens buried another three for good measure, giving the Vikings their largest lead of the second half, 98-91.  Despite Villa's best efforts to put the game away, the seventh seed would not go away.

With 28 seconds left, Jordan Gant - who finished with 26 points for the Owls - scored a coast-to-coast layup to cut Villa's lead to two, 101-99.  After Owens made the first free throw on the ensuing possession, he missed the second, but corralled his own rebound.  He was fouled again and made one of two to make the score 103-99 with 13 seconds left.  Warren Wilson attempted a three with four seconds left but that last-second attempt was blocked by Scarbrough and finished on the other end to end the game.

Villa's Kevin Ford played 24 minutes, and they needed every one of them.  The sophomore came off the bench and provided every bit of spark and energy they needed.  He finished with four points, five assists, three steals and a rebound.  He gave them every ounce of effort he had on both ends of the floor.

Lonnie Taylor scored 10 early points for the Vikings and battled foul trouble in the second half.  He finished with 12 points and eight rebounds.  Senior Justin Stokes scored seven points, dished out seven helpers, corralled five rebounds and added two steals and a block.  Junior forward Kwanique Martin came off the bench to add five points, three boards and two assists in 12  minutes.

BOX SCORE
Villa Maria Vikings (26-5, 6-0)                39 - 66 -- 105
Warren Wilson Owls (16-13, 7-2)           46 - 53 -- 99

INSIDE THE BOX
* Villa finished with 24 assists on 38 made baskets
* The Vikings shot 63.3 percent for the game and 70.6 percent in the second half
* Villa had five blocks
* Villa overcame 21 turnovers and forced Warren Wilson into 16.
* Warren Wilson was 12-of-36 (33.3%) from beyond the arc while Villa was 7-of-15 (46.7%)
* Villa held a slight advantage in points in the paint (42-40)
* Warren Wilson won the battle on the boards 38-37
* Jordan Gant scored 26 to lead Warren Wilson and was 8-of-16 from beyond the arc
* Villa's largest lead was seven. Warren Wilson's largest lead was 15
* There were two ties and one lead change
* Villa's bench outscored the counterparts of Warren Wilson 28-19
* Villa had 23 fast-break points to just eight for the Owls
* Villa had 20 points off 16 turnovers while Warren Wilson had 19 points off 21 giveaways 

WHAT THEY SAID
HC Don Silveri: "This game really tested our character and our mental fortitude.  Our backs were against the wall once again and we found a way to fight through.  We got back to doing what we do best in the second half, which was getting good looks and stops when it mattered.  Our defense got us back in the game and our offense took us home.  Berkeley is a heck of a team which makes for a heck of an opportunity tomorrow.  Our goal all year was to make it to this point and our players plan on taking advantage of the big stage tomorrow night."

UP NEXT
Villa advances to the USCAA Men's Division II National Championship game against the top seed and three-time defending National Champion, Berkeley College.  Tip is set for 6:00 p.m. inside the Main Arena on the campus of Penn State Fayette.

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