WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - In a rematch of last season's Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Semifinals, the Norwich University men's basketball team saw their three-game winning streak broken, falling to the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), 78-64, at the James A. Calhoun Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.

Owen Liss (West Suffield, Conn.) led all scorers in the conference duel, going 8-15 from the floor to finish with 19 points alongside four caroms and three helpers.  Jalen Olivero (Holyoke, Mass.) knocked down four outside shots to tally 12 points, while Kohlby Murray (Fair Haven, Vt.) added 10 points and five assists.

The Blue Jays rushed out of the gates firing on all cylinders, racking up an early 11-0 lead before Murray got the Cadets on the board on a trey, igniting a 10-4 run for the Cadets in the process.  Murray capped off that spurt with a layup to bring Norwich within five.

Norwich's offensive rhythm would be shortlived, however, as Saint Joseph again surged offensively, rallying for a 19-6 run to capture the largest lead of the half at 18.  Olivero nipped the run in its tracks, knocking down a trey that set into motion Norwich's answer.  The Cadets whittled the lead down to single-digits before the break, courtesy of back-to-back baskets from Noah Hutchinson (Montclair, N.J.) and Donato Pakak (Sarasota, Fla.).

Liss and Charles Nogard (Arlington, Mass.) kept Norwich within nine out of the break, with Liss bringing the Cadets to the closest they would get to the Blue Jays at 46-38 with 15:49 remaining in the affair.

The Cadets kept within striking distance, but the University of Saint Joseph succeeded at restricting Norwich's comeback bids, rushing back out to a 20-point advantage before back-to-back long-range shots from Olivero and Riley Severy (Barre, Vt.) closed the contest.

Norwich thrived from beyond the arc, going 10-25 (40.0%) on three-pointers while shooting 39.1% from the floor for the game.  The Cadet defense, meanwhile, held the Blue Jays to 33.3% from outside.

The Cadets will hit the road once more for another GNAC contest, this time heading to Rivier University on Wednesday, Jan. 15, for a 7:00 p.m. clash.  Norwich then returns home for two-straight conference bouts, hosting Emmanuel College on Saturday, Jan. 18, followed by Regis College on Tuesday, Jan. 21.