Box Score

NEWARK, NJ –  Senior G Chris Flores drove the lane and scored the final two of his game-high 23 points on a layup with :00.8 remaining, giving the Highlanders a dramatic 69-67 victory over University of New Hampshire on Wednesday. The win evened NJIT's season record to 2-2 and gave the program its first all-time victory against an America East Conference opponent.

Dating back to last season, the Highlanders have now emerged victorious in their last four contests at Fleisher Athletic Center.

The Highlanders, who had led for only :08 of the second period, took just their second lead of the half on a pair of free throws by Flores that put NJIT up, 67-66, with 0:34 left in the game. The Wildcats could have gone back ahead with 0:15 remaining, but were forced to settle for a tie when junior F Ferg Myrick misfired on one of his two free throws.

The tied score allowed the Preseason 2012-13 Great West Conference Player of the Year to hold for the final shot, whittle through the lane and elevate over Wildcats defenders from the left block for the game-winning layup. To add to the drama, the ball hung on the rim for a few moments before falling good less than one second before the buzzer sounded. Flores entered the day leading the GWC in scoring at 19.0 ppg -- a figure that increased to 20.0 ppg on Thanksgiving eve.

Senior PJ Miller scored 10 points while notching a career-high five steals – including the theft at 0:37 that set up the initial go-ahead free throws by Flores. The Fort Washington, Md., native had previously recorded four steals on four occasions, most recently against Chicago State on Mar. 3, 2012.

Junior F Quentin Bastian contributed six points to go with team-highs in rebounds (9) and blocks (3). Freshman F Terrence Smith added eight points and eight rebounds along with a pair of blocks. The team combined for eight blocks, which was NJIT's highest total in a D-I game since swatting eight shots vs. Longwood on 1/21/12.

The Wildcats were led in scoring by tri-captain Chandler Rhoads, who poured in a career-high 21 points in a 39-minute performance. Rhoads scored 14 of his points in the second half, nailing six of his eight shot attempts. Junior C Chris Pelcher registered his second double-double of the season, netting 17 points while grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds.

The Highlanders jumped out to a quick lead over the Wildcats, going up a game-high five points with an 8-3 lead just 2:43 into the first stanza. A 9-0 run put UNH up until sophomore F Daquan Holiday's three-point play at 13:17 gave the Highlanders back a lead at 13-12 – their last lead in more than nine minutes.

Starting with a jumper by junior F Patrick Konan, the Wildcats went on an 11-2 run that swelled their lead to a game-high eight points, 23-15, with 8:34 left in the first half. UNH built its lead back to eight on two other occasions – the last of which came at 27-19 with 6:33 remaining – before the Highlanders went on a 10-0 run culminating with a three-pointer by freshman G Nigel Sydnor that put NJIT back on top, 29-27, at 3:41 before halftime.

As was the case for seemingly all but the last second of the game, the Wildcats had an immediate answer. UNH went on a 7-0 run to end the half with a 35-29 lead – and would continue to lead for the first 15:09 of the second period. Aside from a Miller jumper that put NJIT up 60-59 for all of :08, the Wildcats did not fall behind again until the two Flores free throws in the final minute.

Both teams lost a significant contributor to injury in the second half. With 8:00 remaining in the game, a collision under the basket left both Konan and freshman G Ky Howard lying on the court in pain. Both players had his knee examined by team trainers and neither would return. Konan had nailed a three-pointer just nine seconds earlier to finish with 14 points (4-6 from beyond the arc). Howard, the Highlanders backup point guard, left with six points (3-5 FG) and five rebounds in 20 minutes.

Aside from a Highlanders 46-37 rebounding edge, the statistics were relatively even. NJIT shot 40.0 percent (26-65) while UNH finished at 40.3 percent (25-62). The Wildcats, who finished with the 13th best three-point defense in the nation last season (.297), held the Highlanders to just 25 percent (3-12) from three-point territory for the game.

The Highlanders were able to hold Myrick, the Wildcats leading scorer (15.0 ppg) and rebounder (8.3 rpg) entering the game, to just three points (1-9 FG) and six rebounds.

“I'm really proud of the effort our guys put forth tonight,” Head Coach Jim Engles said. “Despite trailing most of the game, our guys hung in there and again showed a lot of heart. This is a very good New Hampshire team and a nice win for the program.”

NJIT has now played three games against Division I opponents this season and the contests have been decided by a total of six points (1, 3, 2). Since their transition, the Highlanders now have victories against teams from five different D-I conferences.

NJIT continues its three-game homestand on Saturday with a rematch against South Carolina State University (3-2). The Highlanders will look to avenge a hard-fought, 77-74 defeat in Orangeburg on Nov. 18 and record a victory against a team from a sixth different D-I conference (Mid-Eastern Athletic). Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.


Write-up courtesy of Matt Provence