BUFFALO, NY - Gerald Bibbs led a pack of five players in double-figures and Villa Maria shot 62 percent in the second half en route to an important 94-87 road victory over Bryant & Stratton Buffalo on Wednesday evening inside the Burt Flickinger Athletic Center.

Bibbs scored a team-high 18 points and added eight rebounds as #2 Villa (20-3) used a 17-6 run to open the second half to take control of the game.  After leading by six at the break, junior guard Jabari Hibbert got the scoring opened with a driving layup.  Moments later, senior DeJaun Owens finished a layup while getting fouled.  After a free throw made the lead nine, just over a minute later, sophomore Lonnie Taylor threw down a fast-break slam to increase the lead to 11.

A combination of four points from Taylor and four from senior Dominic Douglas over the next two minutes gave Villa a 17-point edge, 59-42.  The result was never in question throughout the second half as the Vikings led by as many as 18.

Taylor, Owens and Douglas all finished with 16 points each.  Taylor secured 10 rebounds (seven offensive) for his fifth double-double in the last 10 games.  Douglas and Owens were each 7-of-12 from the floor en route to 16 each.  Douglas added eight boards.

Senior Jonathan Pozo scored 15 for Villa as he has now notched double-figure scoring numbers in 11 of his last 15 games.  Junior Daniel Thompson chipped in nine off the bench, connecting on 9-of-10 free throws.

The Vikings out-rebounded the Bobcats 44-37 and had 15 offensive boards.  They held Bryant & Stratton (13-9) to just 43.1 percent from the floor and forced them into 19 turnovers.  Villa had 17 assists on 36 field goals and were led by 6 from Pozo who has 17 assists in his last two games.

Despite having an off night from beyond the arc, Villa converted on 19 of 24 free throw attempts and had 58 points in the paint to just 36 from the Bobcats.  Villa had 19 second chance points, 20 points off turnovers, and outscored the bench of the Bobcats, 43-9.

Villa entered the game ranked second in the latest United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division II National Coaches Poll.  The Bobcats were ranked fourth in the latest Division I poll.

WHAT'S NEXT
Villa will return home for a showdown with Kent State Tuscarawas at 2 p.m. on Sunday.  It is the second meeting this season between the Vikings and Golden Eagles as Villa picked up a 96-84 win in New Philadelphia, OH back on January 15th.

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