The two teams combined for just 11 first-half field goals with Norwich shooting 27 percent (6-22) and WNEC shooting 19 percent (5-26) from the floor as the Golden Bears held a 17-15 halftime lead.
Western New England mustered a 26-22 lead on Matt Gigliello's (Monroe/Monroe Twp, NJ) three pointer with 13:28 left in the game, but Norwich answered with back-to-back three pointers by Matt Johnson (John Jay/Hopewell Jct, NY) and Tim Shedd (Hazen/Hardwick, VT), then a conventional three-point play by Andy Miller (Rocky Mtn/Colorado Springs, CO) to take a 31-26 lead with 11:07 left in the game.
WNEC tied the game at 31-all on three pointer by Gerry Toney (Conard/West Hartford, CT) with 9:09 to play.
Norwich finally took the lead for good, 40-38, on a pair of free throws by Marc Jones with 2:06 to play.
Norwich held a 43-40 lead after a free throw by Geoff Hensley (MacNicholas/Cincinnati, OH) with 16 seconds left in regulation. Anthony Charbatji (Attleboro/Attleboro, MA) got off a good look at a three pointer with 3 seconds left in the game, but neither team could control the rebound as time expired.
Norwich improves to 17-9 on the season with the win, and will advance to Thursday's semifinals to play the winner of tonight's#2 Southern Vermont vs. #7 Emmanuel game at the site of the highest remaining seed. The tournament championship game will be played on Saturday.
Norwich was led by nine points from both Johnson and Hensley. Adrian Ackles (Hayfield/Woodbridge, VA) grabbed 11 rebounds for the Cadets, who held a 40-28 edge on the boards, and a 14-4 edge in offensive rebounds.
Western New England ends its season with a 12-14 overall record. The Golden Bears were led by 12 points from Jon Godbout (St. Paul/Bristol, CT) and nine from Charbatji.
Newspaper Box Score Western New England College vs Norwich University 2/24/04 7:00 pm at Andrews Hall, Northfield, VT At Andrews Hall, Northfield, VT NORWICH UNIVERSITY 43, WESTERN NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE 40 WESTERN NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE (12-14) John Godbout 5-7 0-0 12; Anthony Charbajti 2-4 3-6 9; Gerry Toney 2-9 2-2 8; Mike McFarlane 2-6 0-0 4; Dyshawn Thames 1-5 2-6 4; Matt Gigiello 1-6 0-0 3; Sterling Scanlon 0-3 0-0 0; Mike Cutler 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 13-43 7-14 40. NORWICH UNIVERSITY (17-9) Geoff Hensley 3-9 1-2 9; Matt Johnson 3-7 0-0 9; Marc Jones 2-9 4-5 8; Adrian Ackles 2-6 0-0 4; Rene Cheatham 2-6 0-0 4; Tim Shedd 1-2 1-2 4; Andy Miller 1-7 1-1 3; Paul Bowe 1-5 0-0 2. Totals 15-51 7-10 43. Western New England College... 17 23 - 40 Norwich University............ 15 28 - 43 3-point goals-Western New England College 7-19 (Gerry Toney 2-6; Anthony Charbajti 2-3; John Godbout 2-3; Matt Gigiello 1-5; Sterling Scanlon 0-2), Norwich University 6-20 (Matt Johnson 3-6; Geoff Hensley 2-8; Tim Shedd 1-1; Andy Miller 0-4; Marc Jones 0-1). Fouled out--Western New England College-None, Norwich University-None. Rebounds-Western New England College 32 (Dyshawn Thames 6), Norwich University 44 (Adrian Ackles 11). Assists-Western New England College 7 (Gerry Toney 2; John Godbout 2; Dyshawn Thames 2), Norwich University 10 (Geoff Hensley 4). Total fouls-Western New England College 15, Norwich University 13. A-242