NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Plymouth State University men's basketball team cut a 15-point deficit down to four points, but Norwich University was able to hold on for a 75-71 win over the Panthers in a non-conference matchup at Andrews Gym on Saturday afternoon.
Playing for the first time in more than three weeks, the Panthers got out to a slow start, trailing by 16 with seven minutes left in the opening half. PSU closed the frame with a frenzy, though, pulling to within two points, 26-24, before a late three-pointer made it a five-point deficit at the half.
Norwich stayed in front in the second half, rebuilding a double-digit advantage, but Plymouth State made a late push. Trailing 70-55 with just 1:23 remaining, the Panthers used a 14-3 surge to make it 73-69 with 15 seconds left, but PSU was unable to pull closer as the Cadets held on for the win.
Senior
Kevin Henry (Stratham, N.H.) led the way with 17 points, while five Panthers finished in double figures. Junior
Torran Bosworth (Springfield, Mass.) netted 13 points, while sophomores
Ivan Yen (Concord, N.H.) and
Jayden Montgomery (Nashua, N.H.) added 12 points apiece. Freshman
Brady Hulland (Amston, Conn.) finished with ten points in the losing effort.
Plymouth State slips to 6-4, while the Cadets stand at 9-2.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 71, Norwich 75
- Plymouth State (6-4)
- Norwich (9-2)
Top Performers:
- Plymouth State
- Kevin Henry (17 pts, 9 reb, 2 stl, 2 ast)
- Torran Bosworth (13 pts)
- Ivan Yen (12 pts, 4 stl, 2 ast)
- Jayden Montgomery (12 pts, 5-8 fg, 7 reb, 2 stl, 2 ast)
- Brady Hulland (10 pts, 3-6 fg)
How it Happened:
- Norwich got out to a five-point advantage in the early going and pushed the lead to 14-4 midway through the first half.
- The hosts extended the margin to 22-6 but Montgomery knocked down a triple to spark a 9-0 PSU run to make it 22-15 with 3:30 left before halftime.
- Hulland had a pair of buckets, including an old-fashioned three-point play, to cut the margin to just two, 26-24, in the final minute, but the Cadets knocked down a step-back three to head into the locker room with a 29-24 advantage.
- Mongomery scored back-to-back baskets as the Panthers again cut the margin to two, 34-32, four minutes into the second half.
- Norwich responded with a 10-3 spurt and the Cadets maintained a narrow lead through the middle of the period. Bosworth buried a three with 8:32 left to play as PSU again pulled to within two points, 51-49.
- The hosts ripped off an 8-0 run to restore the double-digit margin, pushing the advantage to 70-55 with 1:23 to go.
- Plymouth State mounted a furious comeback. Yen drilled a three-pointer and sank two free throws to jumpstart the effort, and a Bosworth triple made it 72-67 with 26 seconds on the clock. After a Norwich free throw, sophomore Eli Pockette (Rutland, Vt.) nailed a driving layup to pull within four, but that was as close as the Panthers would get as the hosts held on for the win.
By the Numbers:
- Hulland's ten points were a career best.
- Plymouth State went 24-of-67 (35.8%) from the floor and 9-of-26 (34.6%) from beyond the arc. The Panthers knocked down all 14 of their free throw attempts.
- Norwich shot 25-of-51 (49.0%) from the field and 8-of-23 (34.8%) from distance.
- Norwich owned a 42-27 advantage on the boards.
- PSU's defense came away with 15 steals.
- PSU holds a 9-4 edge in the all-time series, though the Cadets have won each of the last two meetings.
Up Next:
- The Panthers return home to face Worcester State on Wednesday (Jan. 8) with tip off set for 4:00 p.m.
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