NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – The Norwich University men's basketball team dropped an 86-76 decision to the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) Sunday afternoon in its 2015-16 season opener.

Sophomore forward Mike Hogervorst (Leiden, Netherlands) paced the Cadets (0-1) with a team-high 26 points and four rebounds, while junior guard David Hampton (Lebanon, N.H.) posted 12 points in his first career collegiate game. Newcomer forward Chibuzor Ogbue (Framingham, Mass.) tallied six assists and a pair of steals on the day.

Five players scored in double digits for MCLA (1-1) with Dakari Hannah-Wornum putting up a team-high 19 points and 14 rebounds off the bench for a double-double. Khalil Paul contributed 16 points and five rebounds, while Joe Wiggins added 13 points in the win. Maurice Paul and Adam Conquest tallied 12 and 11 points, respectively.

MCLA stormed out of the gate leading 11-2 after a Hannah-Wornum layup.  The Trailblazers then extended the lead on the heels of a strong 26-8 run to grab a 40-14 advantage as the defense clamped down.  Norwich made just one of their first 21 field goal attempts.  MCLA would settle on a 53-30 halftime advantage before the Cadets made a game of it in the closing half.

Norwich used a 10-1 run out of the locker room to get within striking distance at 54-40 with 14:44 to play.  MCLA extended back to a 19 point lead (61-42) but the Cadets eventually got to single digits with under two minutes to play on a pair of Hampton free throws.

Conquest converted a layup at the other end to stem the tide and Norwich would get no closer than seven points the rest of the way.

Hannah Wornum was 7-8 from the floor and 5-6 from the charity stripe for his 19 points.  Paul had a solid floor game collecting 5 boards and 4 assists.  

Hogervorst went 10-19 from the floor for Norwich, but was just 6-11 from the line.  The Cadets shot just 25% in the opening half, but a solid 52% in the closing frame. MCLA shot 45% from the floor for the game and overcame 20 turnovers in the win.

The Cadets are back in action on Wednesday when they host Westfield State at 7 p.m.