BOSTON – The Suffolk men's basketball team put together a well-balanced effort to return to the win column behind a 64-56 victory over Norwich Saturday afternoon at Regan Gymnasium.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 64 | Norwich 56
RECORDS: Suffolk (12-6, 3-1 GNAC) | Norwich (6-13, 0-6 GNAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk built a 9-2 lead in the first five minutes, but the Cadets played catch up in the next five to level the playing field at 14-all.
Brendan Mulson connected from three-point range to regain the edge for the Rams, but it wasn't for long as slow see-saw action ensued with a pair of lead changes and three ties. With just 1:38 to go before the break, Steven DiPrizio broke open a 23-all game with a layup to put Suffolk in front once again. The score stood still from there as neither took advantage of their final possession before half time.
DiPrizio started the second half with a traditional three-point play and Mulson followed suit with a triple to give Suffolk an eight-point lead early, 31-23.
The Cadets attempted another comeback. This time, the Rams responded to each of the visitor's points and built a double digit distance on a trey from Thomas Duffy less than four minutes into the second half.
From there, Suffolk maintained the margin and held onto a 17-point cushion, 58-41, when Cameron Powers put away his second three-pointer of the day with just under seven minutes remaining.
A minute later, Jessie Davis got things going for Norwich with a trey, that jump started a 10-0 Cadets' run that made it a seven-point game, 58-51, with 3:09 to play.
DiPrizio broke up the stretch with a layup, but Davis responded once again with a three with 1:12 to go to cut the Rams' lead to four, 60-56.
Out of a Rams' timeout, the Cadets missed on back-to-back triples and sent Duffy to the line. The junior's composure paid off as he sunk the freebies to make it a two possession game once again.
Davis pulled the trigger from downtown in the hopes of pulling within three, but his shot was off the mark and a layup from Mulson on the other end sealed the 64-56 victory for Suffolk.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Mulson paced an offense that saw all, but two Rams record a point. The sophomore finished the day with 16 points on a 6-for-14 performance from the field to go with six caroms, three steals and one helper.
- DiPrizio notched a double-double effort of 13 points and 11 rebounds. His offensive output came off a 6-for-9 effort from the floor.
- Duffy produced 11 points to round out the trio of Rams in double figures. He added four caroms, one dime and one takeaway as well.
- Hagopian helped with eight points, four rebounds, three steals, two helpers and one block.
- Jarret Byrne and Jim Djema had five points apiece. The former pulled down five caroms, while the latter set-up seven shots.
- Suffolk shot 38.7 percent (24-62) as a team, 30.3 percent (10-33) from three-point range and 85.7 percent (6-7) from the foul line.
- The Rams outrebounded the Cadets, 40-36.
NOTEWORTHY
- The Rams won their third straight game versus the Cadets to move to 20-24 all-time against Norwich.
- The three wins in row against Norwich marks the longest win streak against the Cadets since stringing four triumphs together Jan. 21, 201-Jan. 15, 2014.
- Suffolk moved to 4-2 versus Norwich in the Jeff Juron era.
- J. Byrne made his first collegiate start.
- J. Byrne matched a career-high five points.
POST-GAME PIC
COMING UP
Suffolk heads up to Saint Joseph's (Maine) Wednesday, Jan. 30 for a 7 p.m. midweek match.