NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Norwich University men's basketball team returned to Andrews Hall for the first time in the 2026 calendar year and extended its winning streak to two with a 63-49 victory over intrastate rival Vermont State University Randolph on Thursday evening.

The Knights entered the contest ranked sixth nationally in the latest United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division II Men's Basketball poll, having opened the season as the No. 1 team for four consecutive weeks.

Michel Ndayishimiye (Colchester, Vt.) led all scorers with 21 points on 50.0% shooting while collecting two steals.  Joe Joe DuBrul (Shelburne, Vt.) notched a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double, and Charles Nogard (Arlington, Mass.) chipped in eight points in the win.

After a scoreless stretch lasting over 90 seconds, Nogard opened the scoring with a layup, though the Knights responded with a quick 5-0 burst to take their largest lead of the night.  Both teams traded early advantages before the Cadets broke an 8-7 deficit with a 9-0 run, grabbing an eight-point cushion.  VTSU Randolph clawed back within three, but Norwich countered with a 7-0 run, highlighted by baskets from Ndayishimiye, Mohammed Kanneh (South Burlington, Vt.), and Nogard, to stretch the margin to 10.

A Knight bucket momentarily cut into the lead, but Ndayishimiye drilled a three to give the Cadets their largest lead of the half at 30-19.  The visitors trimmed the gap with a strong defensive stand, holding Norwich scoreless for over two minutes to close the half and heading into the locker room trailing, 30-22.

VTSU Randolph opened the second half with back-to-back buckets to close within four, but Norwich never allowed the Knights to get any closer.  A pair of key baskets from Riley Severy (Barre, Vt.) and Jordan Ricketts (Stratford, Conn.) pushed the advantage back to double digits, and the Cadet defense clamped down to halt any comeback attempts.

Back-to-back triples from DuBrul and Niklas Nordberg (Fairfield, Pa.) in the final four minutes extended Norwich's lead to a game-high 16.  After a quick Knight response, Ndayishimiye answered with a layup to restore the margin, and a Ricketts finish in the final seconds sealed the 14-point triumph.

Norwich dominated several statistical categories, including bench points (21-4), points in the paint (32-24), fast break points (8-2), second chance points (17-6), and points off turnovers (5-3).  The Cadets also controlled the glass, finishing with a 53-38 rebounding edge, including an 18-8 margin on the offensive boards.

The Cadets will aim to continue their momentum on Wednesday, Jan. 14, when they open Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play with a 5:00 p.m. tip-off against Dean College in Andrews Hall.  The homestand continues on Saturday, Jan. 17, as Norwich hosts reigning GNAC champion Saint Joseph's College of Maine at 3:00 p.m.