NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The #5-seeded Norwich University men's basketball team saw their 2024-25 season come to a close on Tuesday night, falling to the #4-seeded Albertus Magnus College Falcons, 72-57, in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament Quarterfinals at the Cosgrove Marcus Messer Center.
Jalen Olivero (Holyoke, Mass.),
Donato Pakak (Sarasota, Fla.), and
Kohlby Murray (Fair Haven, Vt.) all eclipsed into double-digit territory in their final collegiate outings to pace Norwich's offensive effort. Olivero led all scorers in the contest, recording 21 points on eight-made baskets, while Pakak flirted with a double-double on 13 points and nine caroms. Murray rounded out the double-digit performers behind 11 points and four steals.
Norwich seized early momentum, capturing a swift 4-0 lead within the opening minute on a pair of free-throws from Pakak and a Murray layup. Despite Albertus Magnus rallying to knot the affair and eventually claim its first lead, the Cadets kept themselves ahead on a few occasions, first on a
Charles Nogard (Arlington, Mass.) jumper before
Sharif Sharif (Burlington, Vt.) found Olivero for a trey to make it 9-7, in favor of Norwich.
The Falcons gradually began to assume control, reclaiming the lead, and, despite Murray keeping it within one at the 12:14 mark, extending it out to double-figures about 12 minutes into the affair. Albertus Magnus ballooned their advantage beyond the 20-point mark late in the first half, but a layup by Olivero in the waning seconds provided the Cadets some momentum heading into the break.
Olivero added another basket to kick off the second stanza, as the Cadets proceeded to remain within striking distance throughout the initial 10 minutes. After the Falcons turned their advantage into a 17-point lead, a 7-0 rally by the Cadets, capped by back-to-back layups from Pakak, again presented the visitors an offensive boost.
It proved to be the closest the Cadets could get throughout the remainder of the night, however, matching the 10-point deficit one more time on a Murray triple with 3:01 remaining in the game. A small 5-0 run by Albertus Magnus over the final three minutes sealed the deal, catapulting the Falcons to victory.
Norwich was particularly impressive defensively, limiting the Falcons to a 28.6% mark from beyond the arc and a 60.9% clip on foul shots. The Falcons' 72-point output is the second-lowest mark for Albertus Magnus in a GNAC game this season, topped solely by Dean College limiting the Falcons to 69 points on Jan. 7. 2025.
Four Falcons tallied double-digits, spearheaded by a 16-point and 10-rebound performance by Avery Hinnant.
The Cadets close the 2024-25 campaign with 17 overall victories and eight conference victories, both marks one shy of last season's totals. The loss marks the end of the illustrious careers of Olivero, Pakak, Murray, and
Owen Liss (West Suffield, Conn.), who, over their years in the Maroon and Gold, combined for 62 wins and 4,030 points.
The #5-seeded Falcons will move on to the GNAC Semifinals, traveling to top-seeded Saint Joseph's College of Maine on Thursday, Feb. 27, after the Monks topped #9 Mitchell College, 115-85, in the GNAC Quarterfinals.
