PAXTON, Mass. – The Norwich University men's basketball team fell to Anna Maria 73-71 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action on Wednesday night in the Fuller Activities Center at Anna Maria.

Donovan Lewis Jr. (Savannah, Ga.) led the Cadets with 20 points. Jalen Olivero (Holyoke, Mass.) added 11 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in the contest, and Kyle Booth (Northfield, Vt.) brought down 12 rebounds, while adding five points. Samuel-Noah Osarenkhoe (Stockholm, Sweden) added 10 points.

After the AMCATS jumped out to a 12-4 lead in the opening three minutes of the matchup, Norwich rattled off the next nine points before Trevian Grenon made a layup to retake the lead.  Osarenkhoe then hit a layup and followed on the next possession by hitting a three-point jumper for a four-point lead.

After trading baskets back and forth before Grenon hit a three to take the lead with 6:34 remaining in the half. Anna Maria jumped out to a nine-point run that ended with 3:52 in the half. Norwich battled their way back trailing by two points until Lewis Jr. found his way to the hoop for a layup with three seconds to go, evening the contest at 43 at the half.

Norwich jumped out to an early lead before Anna Maria took the lead back with 15:32 left in the game. Neither team was able to create separation throughout the rest of the contest.

Ralph Grasso Jr. gave the AMCATS the lead with 29 seconds remaining in the game. After a foul by Anna Maria gave Spencer Conatser (Reno, Nev.) attempts at the line to even things up with 18 seconds on the clock. 

After a timeout with 16 seconds remaining on the clock, Joey Nuttall received the inbounds pass behind half court, dribbling down the clock.  Nuttall drove to the basket from the right wing, finding a gap for the game winning layup.

Norwich (8-5, 3-2 GNAC) will take on Saint Joseph's College on Saturday, Jan. 15 at 2 p.m. in Maine. The Cadets will then play in Andrews Hall the following Tuesday, Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m. when they host Emmanuel.