Men’s Basketball Fall Just Short Against Norwich

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – The MCLA Men's Basketball team welcomed the Norwich University Cadets to the Amsler Campus Center Gymnasium for a non-conference matchup this evening. Four Trailblazers scored in double digits, paced by 15 from Hayden Morris-Gray. But it wasn't enough to overcome the 27 and 20 points from Norwich's Owen Liss and Jalen Olivero.

THE BASICS:

• Date: Tuesday, November 19, 2024
• Score: Norwich 69, MCLA 68
• Records: Norwich University Cadets 3-0 (GNAC 0-0) | MCLA Trailblazers 0-5 (MASCAC 0-0)

HIGHLIGHTS

MCLA held the lead against Norwich University but ultimately came up just one point short, suffering a heart-wrenching 68-69 loss. Hayden Morris-Gray led the Trailblazers with 15 points and seven rebounds, while Craig Williams contributed 14 points, six rebounds, and four steals on the night.

The game started with an early layup by MCLA's Jayden Mills, which was quickly answered by Norwich's Owen Liss, who finished the night with a game-high 27 points. The two teams went back and forth, trading baskets in the first half. JoJo Garcia made a buzzer-beating three-pointer to give the Trailblazers the lead with a score of 38-37 at halftime.

MCLA came out with some fire at the beginning of the second half. Jackson Brown set the tone for the start of the period, hitting 3 of 4 free throws to extend MCLA's lead to four points by the second minute. Norwich's Noah Hutchinson responded quickly, scoring a layup to reclose the gap. Both teams fought a hard battle in the paint, with the Trailblazers scoring 34 points inside and Norwich adding 36. Despite MCLA doubling the Cadet's second chance points, the lead began to slip away from them in the final minutes.

With the Trailblazers up by one, Norwich's Charles Nogard hit a layup with about a minute left on the clock, putting them ahead by one. MCLA had a chance to pull it back and claim their first victory of the season after a shot clock violation by Norwich, but the time ran out, and the Cadets went home with the win with a final score of 69-68. 

Despite shooting a lower percentage from the field (MCLA 36.4%, Norwich 47.2%) and the three-point line (MCLA 22.2%, Norwich 28.6%), MCLA made up ground with second-chance points and strong rebounding, outrebounding the Cadets 39-32. However, Norwich's higher free throw percentage (Norwich 88.2%, MCLA 77.8%) ultimately proved the difference in the tight contest.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Field Goals / %: Norwich 25-53 / 47.2%, MCLA 24-46 / 36.4%
• 3 Points / %: Norwich 4-14 / 28.6%, MCLA 6-27 / 22.2%
• Free Throw / %: Norwich 15-17 / 88.2%, MCLA 14-18 / 77.8%
• Rebounds: Norwich 32, MCLA 39
• Points off Turnovers: Norwich 16, MCLA 22
• Second Chance Points: Norwich 4, MCLA 20
• Points in the Paint: Norwich36, MCLA 34
• Bench Points: Norwich 16, MCLA 11

UP NEXT:

MCLA will be back in action on Friday when they travel to New London, CT, for the Cadet/Mariner Classic. The Trailblazers will play against the Coast Guard Bears at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at Mitchell College's Yarnall Athletic Center and the Mitchell Mariners at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Coast Guard Academy's Roland Hall.

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