NORWICH HOLDS ON FOR 70-60 WIN OVER SAINTS

NORTHFIELD, Vt.—Despite a late surge by the Saints, the Norwich University Men's Basketball Team defeated Emmanuel College, 70-60 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action on Thursday evening in Andrews Hall.  Both teams entered the game with identical 4-15 overall records and 2-10 GNAC records. The Cadets prevailed to improve to 5-15 and 3-10 in league play, while the loss dropped the Saints to 4-16 and 2-11 in GNAC action. Norwich won an earlier meeting, 81-76, on Jan. 11th.

Four different players scored in double-figures for the Cadets, led by junior Evan Tullar (Chelsea, Vt.) with 17 points. Senior Tom McDonald (Groton, Mass.) added 15 points, while freshman Josh Evans (Grafton, Mass.) and senior Nickolai Havoutis (Coral Glades, Fla.) added 13 and 10 points, respectively. Evans shot a perfect 6-6 from field goal range and hit 1-2 from the free-throw line.

The Saints saw a game-high 25 points by James Sullivan (Wethersfield, Conn.).  The rookie's 25 points were also a season-high and came off of 8-12 shooting and in just 29 minutes of action. Kyle Smith (Los Angeles, Calif.) chipped in with nine points, while Lyndon Harewood (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added eight.

The Cadets held an advantage for the majority of the game and led by double-figures early in the second half, but the Saints put together an 18-8 run spanning 8:03 to come within one on a free-throw by John Clay (Wesport, Mass.). Emmanuel then forced a Norwich turnover, and Brandon Jones (Windsor, Conn.) was able to feed Clay the ball for a go-ahead layup.

Emmanuel's lead was short-lived, as Norwich's Jimmy Warden (North Andover, Mass.) hit a layup on the next possession to put the Cadets up 50-49 with 5:21 still to play. The basket would prove to be the game-winning shot, as Norwich scored the next six points to build a seven-point lead.

Free-throws were the key to success for Norwich down the stretch, as the Saints were fouling in hopes of gaining possession. The Cadets finished a perfect 10-for-10 from the charity stripe in the final 2:57 of the game to keep the Saints at bay.

Norwich hit 60 percent (12-20) from field goal range in the second half to total a 49.0 percent effort over the full 40 minutes. Emmanuel connected on 46.9 percent (15-32) shots in the second half, but an 18.5 percent (5-27) first-half effort brought them to a 33.9 percent complete-game effort.

In the first half, Cadets held the Saints scoreless for the first 5:50 of the game, and used the opportunity to build a nine-point lead. Norwich would extend the lead to double-digits at 22-12 with 5:55 to play and would keep the Saints to under 20 points with a block by Tullar on Emmanuel's final shot attempt of the first half.

Norwich outscored Emmanuel 34-26 in the point and 19-6 on second-chance points. The Saints bested the Cadets 12-7 in points scored off turnovers.

The Cadets are back in action on Saturday, Feb. 8 when they host Anna Maria College in a GNAC matchup at 1:00 p.m. The Saints will travel to Providence, Rhode Island for a Saturday afternoon match-up with Johnson & Wales University.

Courtesy of Norwich University Sports Information