HENNIKER, N.H. - The Norwich University men's basketball team tipped off the 2024-25 season with their first victory of the new campaign, rallying past New England College, 71-63, in a non-conference bout between the two conference rivals in Bridges Gymnasium on Friday evening.

Owen Liss (West Suffield, Conn.) picked up right where he left off after last year's All-Conference First Team season, rattling off 13 points in the second half to lead all scorers with 18 for the contest.  Jalen Olivero (Holyoke, Mass.) was nearly automatic from the charity stripe, going 9-10 to finish with 15 points and six helpers, while Kohlby Murray (Fair Haven, Vt.) rounded out the double-digit scorers with 13 points.

It took a few sequences for both teams to shake off the early-season jitters, but the Cadets captured the first flame, rushing out to a swift four-point edge after an and-one opportunity from Liss and a fastbreak layup courtesy of Olivero.  The Pilgrims recovered, embarking on a 15-4 run to claim a seven-point lead.

New England College never relinquished their advantage throughout the opening stanza, building it to as large as eight on two occasions, but the Cadets prevented it from ballooning any larger before the halftime buzzer.

Norwich was not as fortunate to kick off the second frame, as the Pilgrims took a pair of double-digit leads early.  That sparked another flame in the Cadets, with a Chris Hough (Bloomfield, Conn.) layup spurring a 10-0 Cadet rally that was capped by another Olivero lay-in through the paint.

The Pilgrims held strong until the 4:25 mark, when Charles Nogard (Arlington, Mass.) knotted the game at 60-all on an old-fashioned three-point play.  Back-to-back layups by Murray and Liss pushed Norwich ahead for good, as further clutch buckets from Liss and a trio of free-throws concluded the comeback.

 The Cadets thrived inside, turning a 16-16 tie at halftime in points in the paint into a 42-24 final, outscoring NEC, 26-8, throughout the final 20 minutes.  Norwich also held narrow edges in points off turnovers (13-6) and fast break points (6-2).

The visitors also asserted themselves defensively, turning away eight shots, with Liss and Nogard racking up three blocks apiece.  Norwich also swiped the ball 10 times, with Olivero snagging three.

Norwich will return to the hardwood on Saturday, Nov. 16, for a 1:00 p.m. home opener in Andrews Gym against Plattsburgh State.  The Cadets will then hit the road for three-straight, opening the stretch at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on Nov. 19.