BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Villa Maria College men's basketball team hosted D'Youville college on Saturday and despite a tough start to the game, the team was able to come out strong in the second half to earn a 71-60 victory over the Saints. With the win, Villa secured a winning season with a record of 12-9 and two games to play.
 
To start the game the two teams were evenly matched and trading leads until the ten minute mark. The Saints began to extend their advantage to 11 points with 4:53 to play. Villa stopped the bleeding and managed to keep their deficit at 35-24 heading into the break. As the second half kicked off, the Vikings began to chip away at the score. A Rhalon Bragg layup brought the score to 36-28 with 17:09 on the clock and then Devante Gwyn brought the game to with in three points with 12:17 to play. The game was eventually tied at 50 with 7:21 on the clock thanks to two free-throw makes by Nolan Shephard.
 
From that point on the Vikings began to take control. Trent Cordone gave the team the lead with 4:29 to play with a layup and Bragg and Jeriah Williams answered the Saints with layups to keep their advantage at four. D'Youville began to foul and Villa showed their clutch free-throw shooting ability, making 11 straight shots from the charity stripe to ice the game.
 
Shephard was impressive on the court with 17 points, 12 rebounds, four steals and two assists. Bragg also had 17 points, and added five rebounds and three assists. Williams was facing foul trouble during the game, but still contributed 12 points, six rebounds and four steals. As a team, Villa shot 22-for-28 from the free-throw line.
 
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