NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Norwich University men's basketball team handed the Trailblazers of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) their first loss of the season, coasting to an 81-66 victory in the Cadets' home-opener at Andrews Hall in non-conference action on Tuesday evening.

Norwich opened the tilt on a 5-0 run behind back-to-back baskets from Rodrick Pearson (Hartford, Conn.) and Kohlby Murray (Fair Haven, Vt.) and never looked back.  The Cadets blew open a two-point game on a 12-0 run to extend their lead to 14, and, despite the Trailblazers dwindling the lead back down to two, kept MCLA at bay throughout the opening stanza.

Norwich again spurred another run, erasing MCLA's momentum behind a 10-0 spurt to end the half.  The Trailblazers would bring it back within five on a Dylan Morris-Gray trey four minutes into the second frame, but another dominant run, this time a 15-2 rally, pushed the Cadets ahead by 18.

The Cadets kept MCLA's flow down, courtesy of clutch baskets from Charles Nogard (Oviedo, Fla.), Nabiyu Ndiaye (Barcelona, Spain), and Joe Joe DuBrul (Shelburne, Vt.).  A DuBrul snipe from long range and a Jalen Olivero (Holyoke, Mass.) jumper would give Norwich the largest lead of the night of 19 en route to a double-digit victory.

Points off turnovers were significant for Norwich's edge, as the Cadets held a 20-2 advantage on MCLA's miscues.  Additionally, the Cadets were unstoppable inside, maintaining a 52-24 lead in points in the paint to go with a 17-4 advantage in fast break points.

DuBrul led the Cadets offensively, drilling three long shots to finish with 17 points, while Olivero tallied 14 points off the bench.  Nogard and Murray rounded out the double-digit efforts with 12 and 11 points, respectively.

The Cadets will look ahead to the weekend, entertaining Vermont State University Johnson on Saturday, Nov. 18, for the final game before Thanksgiving break.  Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.