CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Norwich University men's basketball team is off to their best start since the 1997-98 season after defeating non-conference opponent Lesley on Tuesday evening to move to 3-0 on the season, 92-64.

This is also the first time that the Cadets have won three straight contests since they accomplished it during the 2017-18 season, when they won a string of contests in mid-January 2018.

Donovan Lewis Jr. (Savannah, Ga.) had 22 points on while shooting 8-of-12 from the field, adding an additional six points from the free throw line, while collecting eight boards in the contest. Jalen Olivero (Holyoke, Mass.) had 18 points, while crashing the boards for seven rebounds, and dishing out six assists. Spencer Conatser (Reno, Nev.) and Owen Liss (West Suffield, Conn.) also hit double digit scoring with, Conatser scoring 12 points and Liss recording 11 boards for his first double-double of his career.

As a team the Cadets shot 53 percent from the field, while knocking down 11 of their 23 shots from three-point distance. Norwich assisted on over half their made shots in the contest collecting 20 assists as a team. 

Lesley jumped out to a 6-2 lead to start the game before Lewis Jr, and Olivero scored on the next two Cadet possessions to evening things up. The Lynx would battle their way to a 35-34 lead after Christian Castro connected with a three-point jumper. Norwich then responded by going on a 13-2 run, taking a 47-37 lead into the half.

After the Cadets scored the first four points of the second half, Lesley was able to shrink their deficit to single digits scoring eight straight points to make it a 52-45 game.

Norwich held a 10-point lead with 7:21 remaining in the contest before Liss grabbed his own rebound and was able to go back up for the lay-in, and converting the free-throw attempt on the and-one. That sparked a seven-point run that gave Norwich a commanding 20-point lead.

Norwich (3-0, 0-0 GNAC) will look to continue their hot start when they participate in the Granite City Shootout beginning on Friday, Nov. 19 against Vermont Tech at 1 p.m. They will then close out their time in Barre on Saturday with a 6 p.m. matchup against Castleton.