NORTH ADAMS, Ma. (December 30, 2018) – Back from nearly a two-week winter break, the SUNY Delhi men's basketball continued their season Sunday meeting Norwich at the MCLA Tournament. Almost instantly, the Broncos trailed the Cadets, and eventually finding themselves outpaced in the shooting and rebounding categories made matters difficult to overcome in an 88-65 decision. Head coach Zack Thomsen's team moved to 5-8 on the year.
Norwich scored the first seven points of the contest and never surrendered the lead. An ensuing 7-2 Delhi run was the closest the Broncos came of the Cadets' lead at 9-7 with 15:35 to go in the first half. The run was capped off by a 3-pointer from Justin Daoud, which served as his only triple of the game and the first of Delhi's six 3-pointers on the day. William Knight connected for the team's remaining threes, making 5-of-11, as the Broncos posted a 6-of-27 showing from long range, compared to Norwich's 7-of-16. Behind, 27-15, with 7:41 before the half, Delhi did respond to narrow things down to 37-33 with 1:06 to play in the first. Norwich regained control, however, by responding with a pair of free throws to lead, 39-33, at the half, and opened the second period with an 18-3 run. The Broncos got no closer than 11 points from then on.
Backed by his 3-point showing, Knight led Delhi with 21 points off the bench. Payton Dean was the team's only other double-digit scorer with 11 points and a team-best six rebounds. Daoud, Jordan Fragale and Mavenson Therneus each finished with six points, with Daoud grabbing five boards, Fragale giving out five assists, and Therneus pulling down four rebounds.
The Broncos made 32.4 percent from the field (22-for-68), while the Cadets fared better at 47.5 percent (29-for-61). Delhi also trailed, 49-39, in rebounds, and made 15-of-23 free throws to Norwich's 23-of-32. Though the Broncos led, 19-17, in offensive rebounds, the Cadets held a 23-12 edge in second-chance points.
The Delhi men will close out their stay at the MCLA Tournament, as well as 2018, by challenging the host Trailblazers on Monday at 12 noon. They will then return home for a three-game homestand to begin the New Year, starting with Penn College on Thursday, Jan. 3 at 4:00 p.m.
