Cabrera Nets 1,000th Point; Cadets Fall to Suffolk 78-58

NORTHFIELD, Vt.—The Norwich University men's basketball team fell 78-58 to the Rams of Suffolk University in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Monday evening in Andrews Hall despite a milestone performance from senior guard Josh Cabrera (Providence, R.I.). 

With the loss, the Cadets of NU fall to 5-12 overall and 2-8 in GNAC play, while the win boosts the Rams to 5-11 overall and 3-6 in league action.

Cabrera, who totaled 17 points on 6-11 shooting from the floor including two three-pointers, recorded his 1,000^th career point on his final layup of the game.  In addition to his 17 points, Norwich also saw 11 points from Evan Tullar (Chelsea, Vt.) and eight points from Alex Preckol (Westford, Mass.) and Tom McDonald (Groton, Mass.). Nickolai Havoutis (Coral Springs, Fla.) dished out four assists.

Cabrera entered tonight's game needing 16 points to reach his 1,000^th.  After scoring just six points in the first half, the senior recorded his milestone basket with 1:07 remaining in the game.

The Rams saw a game-high 26 points from Chris Torres on 11-16 shooting including 4-5 shooting from three-point range.  Colin Halpin chipped in with 23 points, while GNAC leading rebounder Matt Pepdjonovic grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. Caleb Unni led the Rams in the assist column with four.

Suffolk took the early lead and did not relinquish, but the Cadets held with the Rams in the first half, never trailing by more than 13 and cutting Suffolk's lead to five points entering halftime.

The Rams came out charging in the second half, however, and capitalized on a 7-0 run in the first 3:30 of the half to take a 12-point lead. Norwich was able to climb back, trailing by just seven points with 6:46 to play, but Suffolk had an answer for every Cadets' basket. 

Suffolk held Norwich to just five points in the final five minutes of the game and used this opportunity to open a 20-point gap.

The Cadets shot 33.9 percent from the floor through two halves, while Suffolk connected on 49.2 percent of shots taken from the floor including hitting eight of 16 shot attempts from three-point range.

Norwich is idle until Saturday, when it travels to take on Albertus Magnus at 3:00 p.m.  Albertus Magnus currently sits atop the GNAC with a 10-1 record in league play. 

*Release courtesy of Norwich University Sports Information Dept.