BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Villa Maria College men's basketball team took on Vermont Tech in their first game of the Bobcat Bash, hosted by Bryant and Stratton-Buffalo. The two teams were even throughout the first half with the Knights taking a slight lead into the break, but the Vikings were impressive in the second frame as they went on to win 78-66. The win takes them to 3-2 on the year, while Vermont Tech fall to 0-3.
 
Villa faced an eight-point deficit early, falling behind 10-2 at the 16:21 mark. After taking a timeout, the offense began to heat up starting with a three by Rhalon Bragg and a jump shot by Jaiden Green. They tied the game up at 25-25 on a fast break layup by Trent Cordone with five minutes to play before Jerrold Skillon gave the team the advantage with a lay-in of his own. The two teams traded buckets to end the first half, but the Knights hit a buzzer-beater to take a 39-33 lead into the break.
 
The Vikings stumbled to start the second half, seeing their deficit get to double-digits in the opening minute. The team once again settled in and scored nine unanswered points to get within one point of the Knights at the 16:43 mark. Nolan Shephard tied the game at 46-46 and then converted the and-one to give Villa a lead they did not relinquish. Baskets by Cordone and Jeriah Williams pushed the lead to eight with eight minutes to play and as the Knights began to foul, the Vikings converted their free-throws. Bragg and Cordone each knocked down a pair from the charity stripe to ice the game and give the team a 78-66 win.
 
Villa outscored the Knights 45-27 in the second-half in order to secure the win. Shephard finished the day with 18 points, six rebounds and five steals, he led the team in points and steals. Green added 16 points of his own to go along with six rebounds. Williams, Cordone and Bragg each finished with double-digit scoring, recording 13, 12 and 11 respectively.
 
The Vikings will battle Washington Adventist University on the second day of the Bobcat Bash. Tip-off is scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. start.
 
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