NASHUA, N.H.—The Norwich University men's basketball team was edged 69-68 by the Raiders of Rivier University in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Tuesday evening.

With the loss, the Cadets fall to 5-17 overall and 2-12 in the GNAC, while the win boosts the Raiders to 8-14 overall and 5-10 in league play.

Senior Tom Poitras (Bow, NH) paced the offensive attack for Rivier, who improved to 8-14 overall and 5-10 in the GNAC. He connected on 9-of-13 from the floor and added 7 free throws for a game high total of 27 points. Junior Jake Nelson (Nashua, NH) added 17 points as he was 4-for-5 from beyond the arc while both senior Nick Walch (Dedham, Mass.) and sophomore Kywane Thomas (Hartford, Conn.) added 6 points each.

Norwich saw three student-athletes reach double-digits as Evan Tullar (Chelsea, Vt.) led the way with 17 points. Gary Gladden (Boynton Beach, Fla.) matched Nelson with a 4-for-5 mark in three-point land for a total of 16 points and Tom MacDonald (Groton, Mass.) added 15 points. Alex Preckol (Westford, Mass.) chipped in 8 points off the bench for the Cadets who fell to 5-17 overall and 3-12 in the GNAC.

Following a back-and-forth start to the game, the Raiders would break open a 14-14 score with a 15-2 run to take a 13-point lead, 29-16, with 5:50 to play in the half. However, the Cadets responded with a rally of their own and held the Raiders scoreless for the remainder of the half while scoring 11 points themselves to take a narrow 30-29 halftime lead.

The second half saw seven lead changes and three ties, all of which occurred in the first seven minutes of the half. Rivier took the 40-39 lead on a jump shot by Walch. Over the next few minutes, the Raiders would build an eight-point advantage following a three-point basket by Nelson with 10:45 still to play.

Another Nelson three-pointer at the 7:50 mark would put Rivier up 56-45. Following a Norwich timeout, the Cadets outscored the Raiders 9-2 over the next two minutes to come within four at 58-54 with 4:58 on the clock.

Down seven, 67-60, with 46 seconds left to play, Norwich would spark a final rally with a McDonald jump shot followed by a Gladden three-pointer. Forced to foul for possession, the Cadets put Rivier's Poitras on the line, who sunk two free throws to set the score at 69-65 with 10 seconds remaining. Tullar missed a three-pointer with three seconds on the clock but the Cadets got the ball on the inbounds play and found McDonald, who nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer to set the 69-68 final.

Norwich hit 48 percent (24-50) of its field goal attempts, including a 45 percent (9-20) effort from three-point range. The Raiders also netted 24 field goals and nine three-pointers, but hit 12 free throws to Norwich's 11 in the one-point margin.

The Cadets will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 15 for a 3:00 p.m. league matchup with Albertus Magnus College. Norwich will recognize five seniors in a brief ceremony prior to tip-off.