BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Villa Maria College men's basketball team played their first home game of the 2020-21 season, as they hosted D'Youville College on Saturday. Despite a strong first half, the Vikings couldn't fend off the Saints in the second frame and fell by a score of 94-80.
 
The loss puts Villa at 0-2 on the season, and D'Youville College wins their first game of the year, moving to 1-0. 
 
Master Radford kicked off the scoring with a layup in the opening minute and they continued to attack the basket as Kevin Goode, Trent Cordone and Juwan Beale all converted layups. Villa played good team ball and held off runs by the Saints. Timely makes by Trent Cordone at the 7:54 mark and Jeriah Willams twenty seconds later, helped tie the game at 22. The largest lead of five points came twice for the Vikings. The first time was at the 3:46 mark after two made free-throws by Goode and again at the 1:35 mark after another pair of charity strip makes by Beale. At the half, Villa led by a score of 38-36. 
 
Beale led the way in scoring with 13 points in the first frame and also grabbed six rebounds. As a team, Villa shot 20 free-throws and made 15 of them. They struggled from beyond the arc, shooting 1-for-10. They matched the opposition on the boards, grabbing 26 rebounds and having four different players grab at least four. 
 
The first six minutes of the second half was a back-and-forth battle, with key makes by Cordone, Neale and Williams to keep the team within three points. Starting at the 14:12 mark, D'Youville went on a 12-2 run, and the Vikings fell behind 65-52. The Vikings began to score against, keeping the deficit to 12 on a variety of occasions. Unfortunately, they were unable to mount a comeback and fell by a core of 94-80.
 
Beale led the way with 29 points, shooting 13-for-17 from the free-throw line. Cordone and Williams each finished in double digit scoring, hitting 12 and 11 points respectively. As a unit the Vikings shot 37 free-throws and drawing 28 opposition personal fouls. 
 
Up next for the Vikings is a home game against cross-town rival, Bryant and Stratton-Buffalo on Wednesday, Feb. 3. The contest will take place at 7 p.m. following the women's basketball game. 
 
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