BUFFALO - Looking to get back in the win column, the Jamestown Community College men's basketball team defeated Villa Maria College Sunday afternoon, 78-73.

The Jayhawks (2-3) had four scorers reach double-digits with Isaac Allen (Houston, TX/Texas Connection Academy) leading the way with 23 points on 8-for-13 (61.5 percent) shooting from the field. Joseph Okonoboh (Boston, MA/Bradford Christian Academy) added 12 points each. Josiah Ransom (Orange Park, FL/Helena HS) scored a career-high 10 points on the afternoon, going 5-for-8 62.5 percent) from the floor.

Ransom led the way on the glass for JCC, grabbing eight rebounds (3 offense, 5 defense) with Jake Hougan (Chardon, OH/Chardon HS) and Kyle Butler (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool HS) adding five boards each. Butler seemed to be everywhere on the court as he had seven assists and five steals to cap off his day.

Villa Maria was led offensively by Juwan Beale with 19 points and Kevin Goode with 14 points. Beale led the Viking in rebounds with eight (3 offense, 5 defense), respectively.

Both teams went tic-for-tac in the five minutes of the game with neither team finding much of an edge after five minutes into the game. Kenyon drained a three-pointer to put JCC up 7-5, sparking a 10-3 run, making it 14-8.

The Vikings kept the game close, gaining the lead halfway through the first half. The Jayhawks quickly regained the lead with a layup from Allen. JCC grew their lead to five with 7:02 remaining until the half with the conversion by Okonoboh, putting the Jayhawks up 22-17.

Villa Maria was able to take the lead with under two minutes to play before half and held onto a 34-31 lead at the break.

The teams started the second half very similar to the first with neither team gaining much of an advantage on the scoreboard.

Up three with 14:45 left in regulation, JCC went up 51-48 with a three-pointer from Kenyon. To answer the made basket, the Vikings scored 14 unanswered points to take a 62-51 lead. The run did not discourage the Jayhawks as there was plenty of time remaining in the game.

Looking to find their own offense, the Jayhawks regained the lead, going on a 16-1 run. During the seven minute stretch, Ransom provided the spark they needed with three made baskets. Allen kept the momentum going, knocking down back-to-back threes to put JCC up 67-63. 

The Vikings threatened multiple occasions to take the lead but the Jayhawks held strong. To ice the game, Allen and Okonoboh both hit a pair of free throws.

This was the best shooting performance of the season for JCC, shooting 30-for-62 (48.4 percent) from the floor. The Vikings shot 25-for-69 (36.2 percent) from the field.

The Jayhawks will be off until this Friday, March 19th, as they travel to Niagara County Community College for a 7:30 p.m. tip.