Nov. 14, 2006

Box Score

NEWARK, NJ - Senior Marc Milbourne Swan scored a game-high 17 points, leading New Jersey Institute of Technology past visiting Rider, 63-52, in men's college basketball Tuesday night.

Milbourne Swan scored 15 of his points in the second half, as NJIT pulled away from a 21-21 halftime tie, raising the Highlanders' record to 2-0 in their first season of competition at the Division I level.

Tuesday night's game was the home opener for NJIT and the game was played in front of a near-capacity crowd of 1,025 in the newly-renovated Estelle and Zoom Fleisher Athletic Center gym.

In addition to Milbourne Swan, who raised his career scoring total to 1,003, becoming the 20th 1,000-point career scorer in NJIT history, the Highlanders got 13 points from senior guard Clayton Barker and 12 from sophomore forward Nesho Milosevic.

Barker raised his career scoring total to 1,353 points, passing Andrew South (1,345 points; 1992-95) for seventh on the NJIT all-time list. Sophomore transfer Nesho Milosevic had his second 12-point game in as many tries in his first season as a Highlander.

NJIT, which had a 48-34 rebounding advantage in the game and 28-16 in the decisive second half, was paced by Kraig Peters' nine rebounds. Barker collected 7 rebounds and his freshman backcourt mate, Andrew Engel, grabbed 6 boards. Barker led NJIT with 4 assists.

Rider had three double-figure scorers, led by senior guard Terrance Mouton and sophomore guard Harris Mansell, with 13 points apiece, while junior Jason Thompson added 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

Half of the Broncs' 56 total field goal attempts were from three-point range and they struggled there, connecting on just 6 of 28 tries (21.4 percent). Rider also struggled at the foul line, shooting 10-for-21. Mouton, the senior guard, came in as an 82 percent career foul shooter, but was just 3-for-6 to open his senior season.

Rider led, 32-31 after a three-point play by Ryan Thompson at the 15:34 mark. But NJIT took control with a 14-3 run over the next 6:29, going ahead, 45-35, on Peters' three-point shot with 9:05 left. Five different players scored for the Highlanders in the spurt.

The Broncs cut the deficit to four, 47-43, with 5:30 left after Mansell's three-pointer, but NJIT ran off seven straight points--six by Milosevic--to fight off the rally.

The Highlanders later took their biggest lead of the game--12 points, at 59-47, when Barker hit two free throws with 1:32 remaining.

In what will be a season of firsts, NJIT will play its first Division I in-season tournament, heading to New York for the third annual Tyler Ugolyn Classic at Columbia this weekend. The Highlanders will take on host Columbia on Friday at 7 pm. Kennesaw State and Saint Peter's will meet in the other first-round game, with the consolation and championship games set for Saturday at 5 pm and 7 pm, respectively.