PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Norwich University men's basketball team couldn't slow down a hot-shooting Johnson & Wales (R.I.) team that shot 48.5 percent from the field and fell, 86-51, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference play Wednesday night.

The loss drops Norwich to 4-7 overall and 1-4 in the GNAC, while Johnson & Wales improve to 10-3 on the year and 5-1 in league play.

Freshman center Mike Hogervorst (Leiden, Netherlands) scored a team-high 12 points for the Cadets and went 4-of-4 at the free throw line. Junior guard Jimmy Warden (North Andover, Mass.) added 10 points, while senior Evan Tullar (Chelsea, Vt.) and sophomore Kevin Ross (Ontario, Calif.) scored six points each with Tullar pulling in a team-high six rebounds.

After both teams traded baskets to even up the score 3-3 in the opening minutes of the game, Johnson & Wales utilized a 10-0 run in a two minute span for the 17-5 lead before Norwich was forced to burn a timeout at the 15:20 mark to stop the bleeding.

The Cadets battled their way back into the game slowly with a pair of free throws from Warden followed up with a layup from Ross before a three-pointer from Frank Robinson sparked another run, this time a 15-0 cycle to widen the margin to 24 for the 37-13 score with 5:19 remaining in the first half.

Norwich would add 10 more points to the Wildcats' eight as both teams headed into the locker room at the break with Johnson & Wales holding on to a comfortable 45-23 lead.

The Cadets looked to turn things around in the second half, only to watch the Wildcats explode out of the gate with a 20-5 run to stretch out the 65-28 lead in the first six minutes of the half. The Cadets looked to get back into the game quickly on a three-pointer from Tommy Fitzgerald (Williston, Vt.) followed by Alex Preckol's (Westford, Mass.) jumper but the Wildcats would match the baskets and more to put the game out of reach for the 86-51 victory.

Johnson & Wales' Tom Garrick shot 60 percent (12-20) from the floor and 55.6 percent from beyond the arc (5-9) for a season-high 31 points. Clayton Roker added 10 points with eight assists and four rebounds, while Robert Lewis added eight points and four rebounds on the night.

As a team, Norwich shot 43.7 percent from the field, scoring 22 points in the paint and 68.4 percent from the free throw line. Johnson & Wales outrebounded the Cadets, 44-29 and scored 31 points off of Norwich's 20 turnovers along with 17 points second chances.

Norwich is back in action on Saturday, Jan. 17 when it hosts Emmanuel College in a 3:00 p.m. GNAC matchup.