Basketball places three in double figures but they fall to Norwich 86-71

Norwich, VT- The host Norwich Cadets men's basketball team placed four players in double figures as they pulled away from the MCLA Trailblazers in the second half to earn an 86-71 victory in non league action.  The game marked the season opener for Norwich (1-0).  The Trailblazers drop their second straight to begin the season and are now 0-2.

Norwich's Owen Liss paced all scorers with 20 points on 10-12 shooting.  He added 9 rebounds to his stat line.  Samuel-Noah Osarenkhoe chipped in with 11 while Kohlby Murray and Spencer Conatser added 10 each in the win.

Norwich led just 39-38 at halftime but ultimately pulled away in the second half.  Norwich actually trailed 50-44 with 15:04 left to play.  The Cadets would use a 20-2 run to take command.  Liss took over scoring eight points in the pivotal run that gave Norwich a sizable 64-52 lead with just over ten minutes remaining.

The Trailblazers would claw back to within seven points on Dylan Morris-Gray's triple with 5:57 left that made it 69-62, but Norwich's Osarenkhoe had the answer to push the lead back to nine.  MCLA once again got within seven after Quentin Gittens delivered a bucket, however Norwich answered that with a 11-2 spurt to put the game out of reach and secure the win.

Norwich shot 50% (36 of 72) from the floor in the win. 

MCLA was led by Morris-Gray's team best 19 point effort.  He canned four three pointers in the contest.  Hayden Bird added 17 points while Bright Afful joined them in double figures with 10 points.  Gittens scored only 4 points but did pull down 12 boards in the loss.

The Trailblazers are back in action on Saturday when they head to Rivier.