NEWTON, Mass - The #5-seeded Norwich University men's basketball team rallied from a 15-point second-half deficit, capped off by a game-winning, go-ahead three-pointer from Kohlby Murray (Fair Haven, Vt.) with 2.5 seconds left, to knock off #4-seeded Lasell University in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Quarterfinals on Tuesday evening at the Lasell Athletic Center.
Four Cadets crossed into double-digit territory, led by Omarion Jett (Montclair, N.J.), who paced the effort with 18 points and nine caroms. Jalen Olivero (Holyoke, Mass.) drilled four treys off the bench en route to a 16-point output, while Owen Liss (West Suffield, Conn.) and Murray rounded-out the double-digit performances, providing 14 and 11 points, respectively.
The win catapults the Cadets into the GNAC Semifinals for the first time since 2011, as Norwich will now travel to top-seeded University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) for a 7:00 p.m. bout on Thursday, Feb. 22, in West Hartford, Conn.
After an initial basket from Jett handed the Cadets an early 2-0 lead, the Lasers overcame a strong defensive battle, finally getting on the board over three minutes in and capturing their first lead on an Andy Madesko trey.
That three-pointer was enough to ignite Lasell's offense, as the hosts scored 10-straight to claim all momentum. Norwich stayed close, whittling the lead down to six on three occasions and eventually down to five on a split trip to the charity stripe from Rodrick Pearson (Hartford, Conn.).
Lasell continued to create distance throughout the opening stanza, pushing the advantage back to double-figures before eventually taking a 29-20 lead at halftime.
The Norwich offense generated opportunities to kick off the second half, but the Lasers' offense also resumed its onslaught, gradually building a pair of 15-point leads to again maintain momentum.
Norwich's rally saw its first sign of life after Marcus Lewis gave Lasell a 14-point advantage, as back-to-back treys from Olivero and Jett brought the Cadets back to within single-digits. Lewis and Gabe Qua kept the Lasers afloat, but another pair of treys from Murray and Jett continued to threaten Lasell's flow.
The Lasers proceeded to keep Norwich at bay, preventing the Cadets from dwindling their lead to single-digits. Norwich came close over the ensuing stretch, with Liss and Olivero continuing the rally by bringing the lead down to four on a pair of occasions.
All momentum finally shifted into Norwich's favor in the closing minute-and-a-half, after a steal and layup from Jett brought Lasell's lead down to four, 64-60. Both teams missed their next baskets, and, as Madesko hauled down a crucial rebound, he likewise committed a costly turnover underneath the Norwich basket to Pearson, who was fouled on a swift dunk attempt.
Pearson's 2-2 trip to the charity stripe finally pushed the Cadets into single-possession territory, but Che Hanks downed a seismic three-pointer to extend Lasell's lead to five, 67-62.
With 12 seconds remaining, facing a five-point hole, Murray capitalized on another costly Madesko mishap, getting the call on a three-point attempt and draining all three subsequent free-throws to make the game 67-65.
On the subsequent inbound, Hanks stepped out-of-bounds right in front of the Norwich bench, handing the ball back to the Cadets with just seconds left. Murray, for the second time this season, granted Norwich victory on a step-back three, shaking off a Lasell defender to knock down the game-winning basket from the top of the key with 2.5 seconds remaining. The Cadet defense held firm on Lasell's final attempt, preventing the Lasers from getting a last-second heave off.
The Cadets held advantages in points off turnovers (14-8), bench points (21-15), and fast break points (10-2). Norwich kept Lasell contained from outside, allowing the Lasers to shoot just 26.1% from long range, while the Cadets finished 38.1% beyond the arc.
A Thursday night trip to the University of Saint Joseph awaits the Cadets in the GNAC Semifinals, as Norwich will look to avenge a 71-68 loss to the Blue Jays back in January. USJ, who are receiving top 25 votes in the latest d3hoops.com national poll, has yet to lose to a GNAC foe all season. Tip-off on Thursday is set for 7:00 p.m. in the James A. Calhoun Gymnasium at the O'Connell Athletic Center.
A full preview for Thursday's game will be available soon.
