Feb. 26, 2007

Box Score

NEWARK, NJ - Senior forward Kano Edwards scored 15 points, leading four double-figure scorers for visiting Texas-Pan American in its 70-58 win over New Jersey Institute of Technology in the 2006-07 home finale in the Estelle and Zoom Fleisher Athletic Center Monday night.

NJIT's senior co-captains Marc Milbourne Swan and Clayton Barker were honored in pre-game ceremonies recognizing their final home appearances. Milbourne Swan finished with 14 points--13 in the second half--leading NJIT's attempt to come back from an 11-point halftime deficit. Barker, who has not played since injuring his knee on February 10, was not in uniform.

The victorious Broncs (14-14) got 14 points each from senior Colin Lien and junior guard Paul Stoll and 10 points from junior guard Brian Burrell. Lien's eight rebounds paced Texas-Pan American on the boards.

The Highlanders, who closed out the home part of their first season of Division I competition, were led by junior Kraig Peters' 15 points. In addition to Milbourne Swan's 14 points, NJIT got 12 points from freshman guard Andrew Engel. Freshman center Dan Stonkus, in his first non-start of the year, came off the bench for a team-leading eight rebounds.

Milbourne Swan, who is playing some of his best ball of the season as his career winds down, shot 4-for-6 from the field and 6-for-8 from the foul line on Monday. Second on the career field goal percentage list at .639, Milbourne Swan's 14 points boosted his career total to 1,188, moving him past Phil Renaud (Class of '04; 1,177) into 13th on NJIT's all-time scoring list.

Barker, despite missing the last four games, is in the top seven in 10 different career statistical categories. Among those rankings are: sixth in scoring (1,617 points); third in assists (388) and second in steals (216).

Texas-Pan American's Edwards scored 10 of his points in the first half, as the Broncs built a 35-24 lead at the half.

Lien, the senior center, scored the first two buckets of the second half, staking the visitors to a 39-24 advantage with 18:12 remaining, but NJIT answered with a 14-3 run over the next 7:11, closing the deficit to 42-38 on Dan Lewis' basket with 11:01 left.

The visitors' lead stayed in single digits and it was down to five, 53-48, after Peters hit two free throws for NJIT with 5:59 left.

On the next possession, NJIT forced a missed three-pointer, but the rebound went out of bounds off the Highlanders and UTPA retained possession. This time, Danny Puente made a running three-pointer with 4:54 left for his only basket of the game, the Highlanders missed a quick shot on the other end and Lien backed his way in from the low block for a layup, pushing the advantage back to 10, 58-48, with 4:15 left.

The teams traded scores before NJIT made one last push, as Milbourne Swan scored on a layup at 2:38 and Engel drove to the basket for another layup, closing the gap to 60-54 with 1:30 left.

However, Texas-Pan American sealed the win by making all 10 of its free throws in the final 1:08.

The Highlanders will close the season with a trip to the Dakotas, visiting North Dakota State for a game Thursday night and then bringing down the curtain at South Dakota State on Saturday night.