HENNIKER, N.H. - The Norwich University men's basketball overcame a dominant lead by New England College in the closing minutes of the contest, earning a 68-62 victory over the Pilgrims in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) duel on Wednesday evening at Bridges Gym.
Four Cadets tallied double-digits, with
Omarion Jett (Montclair, N.J.) spearheading the effort with 19 points.Â
Jalen Olivero (Holyoke, Mass.) added 13 off the bench, while
Owen Liss (West Suffield, Conn.) scored 11 points.Â
Joe Joe DuBrul (Shelburne, Vt.) rounded things out with a 10-point, 11-board double-double.
Norwich rushed out to an early advantage and appeared unstoppable, as the visitors erased an early 1-0 deficit behind a 12-0 run to claim a double-digit lead just four-and-a-half minutes in. The Cadets kept that lead at a similar number throughout the ensuing minutes, with an old-fashioned three-point play from Liss providing a 13-point edge.
The Pilgrims' offense ignited as Norwich went stagnant, with the hosts gradually evaporating the lead and taking a dominant advantage. Junior Efosa capped things off with an emphatic dunk in the waning seconds, finishing a 25-3 run by the Pilgrims that spanned the final nine-and-a-half minutes.
Momentum remained in NEC's favor as they stretched the lead to double-digits and took a game-best 14-point edge. Efosa kept the Cadets at bay halfway through the final frame, knocking down a pair of freebies to keep New England College ahead by 10.
However, roles shifted just as they did at the end of the first half, as a Olivero trey and three-straight layups from Liss spurred a wild rally by the Cadets. DuBrul completed the comeback, pushing Norwich ahead on his own long-range shot. Despite a slew of free throws and a tough jumper with 25 seconds left, NEC could not overcome Norwich's final burst. Olivero and DuBrul iced the contest from the line, scoring four straight points in the final 24 seconds to seal the deal.
The Cadets held a 23-20 lead in bench points and a 13-9 advantage in second-chance points. Norwich generated 20 NEC turnovers and knocked down eight treys.
Norwich, winners of three straight, returns home for a weekend showdown with Lasell University that carries significant weight on the hunt for a top-four position in the GNAC standings ahead of the final week of the regular season next week. The Cadets and Lasers will tip off at 1:00 p.m. in Andrews Hall.
