HENNIKER, N.H. - Junior Jasen Stovall (Tampa, Fla.) had a team-high 16 points in an 83-69 loss to Norwich University on Wednesday night in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action, splitting the season series with the Cadets. 

The Pilgrims and Cadets went back-and-forth early as 11 of the game's 12 lead changes came in the first half. Norwich had built a four-point lead with over seven minutes left in the first, but the 'Grims closed out the half on a 13-7 run – fueled by 10 points from Stovall – to take a 40-38 lead into the halftime break. 

Norwich took the lead with 17:48 left in the second on a jumper from Joe Joe DuBrul and the visitors would not give it back for the remainder of the game. DuBrul erupted for 12 of the team's first 14 points of the second half, ending the game leading all players with 22 points and five three-point field goals. 

NEC would pull within as few as four points with 8:42 to go following a three-ball from sophomore Josh Robie (Bethlehem, N.H.) and a bucket down low by junior Aiden MacLeod (Wilmington, Mass.). Norwich countered the Pilgrim run as Jordan Ricketts and Vermont-transfer Michel Ndayishimiye scored their next 14 points to grow their lead back to 11 with under five to play. 

The Cadets lead ballooned up to 17 points as the Pilgrims went nearly four minutes without a point. The 11-0 Norwich run was ended by a free throw from freshman Tyrese Acevedo (Lawrence, Mass.) and a lay-up by freshman Ryan Elliott (Merrimack, N.H.), but the damage had been done as Norwich left town with an 83-69 victory. 

Stovall went 2-of-5 from distance while Robie shot 3-of-6 from deep and ended the night with 12 points. Sophomore Luke Montejo (Tewksbury, Mass.) joined them in double figures with 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting while chipping in six rebounds. 

In addition to DuBrul's 22, Ricketts had 18 for Norwich while Ndayishimiye had 15 points, five rebounds and four assists. The Cadets shot 48.3 percent from the floor and 45.8 percent from deep, while the Pilgrims connected on 44.1 percent from the field and just 26.3 on three-point attempts. 

The Pilgrims are back in action on Saturday, February 14th, as they host Rivier University at 3:00 PM on the hardwood of Bridges Gym. 

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