NORTHFIELD, Vt. - A valiant upset bid by the Norwich University men's basketball team fell just short after a late-game run by the 18th-ranked Trinity College Bantams doomed the Cadets in a 72-54 final in the championship game of the 2023 Ed Hockenbury Classic on Sunday afternoon in Andrews Hall.

Owen Liss (West Suffield, Conn.) led the offense for Norwich, tallying 14 points off the bench.  Kohlby Murray (Fair Haven, Vt.) and Jalen Olivero (Holyoke, Mass.) were wildly efficient, particularly in the first half, finishing with 12 and 11 points, respectively, combining for five treys.

It took time for both offenses to get going, but the Bantams struck first on a swift 5-0 run in a 24-second plan before Donato Pakak (Sarasota, Fla.) finally got the Cadets on the board on a put-back layup.  Trinity would control much of the opening stanza, despite Norwich tying the contest twice on different baskets from Joe Joe DuBrul (Shelburne, Vt.) and Chris Hough (Bloomfield, Conn.).

The Cadets' strong offensive efforts pushed them ahead late in the half, as a 29-25 Trinity lead was evaporated behind an unanswered 9-0 run by Norwich to end the frame.  Murray served as the catalyst, being responsible for seven of those nine points, as Liss closed out the affair on a jumper in the paint.

Norwich remained ahead in the opening minutes of the second, but the Bantams' offense sprung to life, overcoming a personal 5-0 run from Liss and a go-ahead layup from Pakak to reclaim the lead at the 9:48 mark, never relinquishing it from that point on.  Liss kept the Cadets close, staying within four as the six-minute mark passed, but Trinity ended the game on a 20-6 run to capture the Hockenbury Classic crown.

The Cadets owned advantages in a few areas, including in points off turnovers (17-3), and saw a significant boost off the bench, resulting in a 31-20 edge.

For his efforts over the weekend, which included a 19-point showing against the University of Maine at Fort Kent on Saturday, Liss received a spot on the All-Classic Team.

Sunday's consolation game, which preceded the championship tilt, saw Framingham State University overcome a stalwart effort by the University of Maine at Fort Kent, as the Bengals captured a 68-62 win over the Bengals.

• All-Tournament Team:
  • University of Maine at Fort Kent:
    • #10 Aidan Grady
  • Framingham State:
    • #4 Adonis Vashon
  • Norwich:
    • #34 Owen Liss
  • Trinity:
    • #22 Jarrel Okorougo
    • #4 Dana Smith (MVP)

Norwich will have a quick turnaround, returning to action on Wednesday, Dec. 6, hosting Lesley University in a 6:00 p.m. non-conference duel in Andrews Hall.  The Cadets will then travel to Paxton, Mass. on Saturday, Dec. 9, for their Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opener at Anna Maria College.