BUFFALO, N.Y. – While the Houghton Highlanders offense performed consistently over both halves of play, it was the Villa Maria Viking's offense that separated the first from the second.
The Vikings, who scored only 29 points in the first half, went 15-27 from the floor and 17-22 from the line in the second half, scoring 49 points to down the visiting Highlanders, 78-68.
Game Vitals
Score: Houghton – 68 | Villa Maria – 78
Records: Houghton: 2-2 | Villa Maria: 4-6
Venue: Viking Athletic Center, Villa Maria College| Attendance: 65
Key Moments
>> Most of the first half battled evenly between the two teams, until
Phil Pellegrino hit a pair of threes to give the Highlanders their largest lead to that point, 23-15.
The Vikings drew within three at the two minute mark, but
Dylan Lambert and
Johnathan Stowe sank layups for the Highlanders before the Vikings hit a shot to close the half with Houghton in front, 34-29.
>> After
Jordan Scott opened the second half with a three that put Houghton up by eight, the Vikings tore off an 18-4 run, building their own eight point lead, an advantage they would not relinquish for the remainder of the game.
Key Stats
>> Houghton scored 34 points in both halves. Villa, who took 27 shots in both halves, made four more shots from the field (41% vs. 56%) in the final 20 minutes.
>> Perhaps the biggest difference maker for the Vikings, though, was at the free throw line. While they shot well in both halves, Villa sank only six free throws in the first half, but drained 17 in the second.
>> Stowe led the Highlanders with 18 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots.
>> Scott scored a season-high 16 points and dished out five assists, while Pellegrino and Lambert scored 15 and 12 points apiece, respectively.
>> DeJuan Owens scored 19 points for the Vikings, 16 of which came in the second half.
Next Time Out
The Highlanders travel to Saratoga Springs, N.Y. on Friday to take on the Thoroughbreds of Skidmore College at 4:00 p.m. It will be the first meeting between the two teams.
