NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Norwich University men's basketball team suffered a 67-55 misstep to Emmanuel College in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) duel in Andrews Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.

Jalen Olivero (Holyoke, Mass.) paced the Cadet offense, knocking down eight shots to rack up 19 points.  Owen Liss (West Suffield, Conn.) added 13 points to go with eight caroms.

Liss opened up the afternoon by garnering Norwich's largest lead of the day, scooping up a layup to give the Cadets an early 2-0 lead.  After the Saints claimed their first edge on a trey, Charles Nogard (Arlington, Mass.) responded as the Cadets reclaimed their final lead.

Emmanuel surged ahead on a Mahari Guerrier layup, gradually building a lead that ballooned to 12 late in the initial stanza.  Norwich was able to whittle away at the advantage, trimming it down to eight on baskets from Liss and Olivero before halftime.

Norwich appeared to seize momentum halfway through the second half on an old-fashioned three-point play by Olivero to bring Emmanuel's lead to seven, but it was not to be, as the Saints embarked on an 8-0 run to capture a game-high 15-point advantage.

Nogard brought the Cadets to within eight, but the Saints iced the affair from the charity stripe.

The Cadets owned narrow advantages in points off turnovers (10-7) and points in the paint (36-32), while forcing the Saints into 12 turnovers.

Guerrier led the Saints offensively, posting a 20-point and 13-rebound double-double. Junior Vondre Chase added 15 points and 13 rebounds while Ismani Cepeda chipped in with 10 points.

Norwich returns to action on Tuesday to close out the two-game homestand, hosting Regis College on Jan. 21 at 7:00 p.m.  The Saints are back on Tuesday, Jan. 21, hosting the University of Saint Joseph's.

**Release courtesy Norwich University Athletic Communications Office