NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Junior G/F Jaren Jeffcoat
scored a game-high 17 points and freshman G Ryan Williams netted 15
points as the Norwich University men's basketball team opened Great
Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play with a 71-46 victory over
Rivier College Wednesday evening at Andrews Hall.
Senior F Israel Guardado added 13 points and sophomore F Antonio
Davis chipped in eight points, a game-high 16 rebounds and a
game-best four assists for the Cadets, who outrebounded the Raiders
by a 51-36 margin. Junior G/F Quincy Williams contributed eight
points and six boards off the bench for Norwich (3-1, 1-0 GNAC).
Rivier (1-3, 0-1 GNAC) was led by Joe Granato
(Arlington, MA), who scored a team-high 11 points and
pulled down six rebounds. Luke Brownell (Hubbardston,
MA) pitched in nine points and six boards off the
bench for the Raiders, who shot just 31.0 percent (18-of-58) from
the field in the game.
The game see-sawed back and forth over the first seven minutes
with Rivier clinging to a 9-6 lead at the 13:01 mark. Three free
throws by Jeffcoat and then back-to-back three-pointers by Jeffcoat
and Ryan Williams gave Norwich a 15-9 advantage just moments later.
The Cadets extended their lead to as many as 10 points in the first
half before settling for a 33-24 edge at the intermission.
Jeffcoat paced all scorers in the opening 20 minutes with 12
points. Granato netted 10 points for Rivier in the first half.
Rivier cut Norwich's lead to 35-27 early in the second half, but
a 19-5 run by the Cadets gave the hosts a comfortable 54-29
advantage at the 11:18 mark. Jeffcoat and Ryan Williams combined
for eight points during the spurt, which effectively put the game
away. The Raiders got no closer than 20 points the rest of the way,
as the Cadets coasted to the victory.
Norwich converted its 19 offensive rebounds into 18
second-chance points. The Cadets scored 32 points in the paint,
compared to just 16 for the Raiders. NU hit 7-of-19 three-pointers,
led by Ryan Williams' 4-of-6 performance. Rivier made just 5-of-23
from behind the three-point arc.
Rivier will take the hardwood again on Friday, December 11 as
they travel to the Bard College Classic to take on Medger Evers
College at 8:00 PM.
