Game Notes (PDF)


HIGHLIGHTS:
•           NJIT looks to start 3-2 for the first time in its Division I era. The Highlanders started 2-2 in their first year of the era (2006-07) as well as last season (2011-12) before dropping Game 5 in both campaigns.
•           NJIT will seek to win back-to-back Division I games (outside of the GWC) for the third time in program history. The Highlanders had victories at Fairleigh Dickinson (2/1/11) and versus Longwood (2/5/11) during the 2010-11 season after winning the first two games of their D-I era at Manhattan (11/11/06) and versus Rider (11/14/06) in 2006-07.
•           NJIT will try to log its first all-time win against a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference program – which would give the program a win against a sixth different D-I conference all-time.
•           NJIT will look for its fifth consecutive home victory going back to last season (starting with a 72-70 OT loss to CSU Bakersfield on 2/22/12).


For the second time in six days, the NJIT men's basketball team will square off against South Carolina State University. The Bulldogs (3-2) eked out a 77-74 victory over the Highlanders (2-2) in Orangeburg, S.C., on Nov. 18 – holding on as senior G PJ Miller's game-tying, three-point attempt fell just short at the buzzer.

However, the Highlanders were able to rebound in their ensuing game – winning on a layup by senior G Chris Flores at the buzzer in a 69-67 victory over University of New Hampshire on Wednesday. Flores, who was held to nine points against the Bulldogs, scored 15 of his game-high 23 points against the Wildcats in the second half to ensure the win.

Flores, the Preseason 2012-12 Great West Conference Player of the Year, entered the game leading the GWC in scoring at 19.0 ppg -- a figure that increased to 20.0 ppg on Thanksgiving eve.

The win gave the Highlanders a four-game home winning streak and provided the program its first all-time victory against an America East Conference opponent.

In the first meeting against SC State, Atlantic City native G Khalif Toombs scored both a game-high and career-high 30 points to lead his Bulldogs. The 5-9 senior scored 21 of his points in the second half, including three consecutive free throws with 4:24 remaining in regulation to break a 59-59 tie and put his team ahead for good.

The free throws were a result of a double technical foul on the Highlanders' bench following a controversial offensive foul on freshman G Ky Howard. NJIT wound up committing 30 personal fouls to 13 and the Bulldogs were able to connect on 27 of 40 free throws to help secure the victory.

In a game that featured seven ties and nine lead changes, the Highlanders were either ahead or tied for nearly 20 consecutive minutes from 11:39 remaining in the half until 12:01 in regulation. Their lead grew as large as eight points (9:39) before eventually disappearing on a three-pointer by Toombs.

The Highlanders finished with statistical edges in many categories, out-shooting the Bulldogs 44.3 percent (27-61) to 34.5 percent (20-58), out-rebounding them by a 42-36 margin and outscoring SC State in the paint, 40-18. However, the Bulldogs were able to hit 10 of their 19 shots from three-point range – including five of six from Toombs.

Senior F Ryan Woods led the way for NJIT, scoring a D-I career-high 20 points -- 16 of them in the second half. He is currently ranked second on the team in both scoring (13.0) and rebounding (5.3). Freshman G Nigel Sydnor also registered a career-high with 12 points in just 13 minutes of play.

SC State had three other scorers in double-figures. Junior G Louie Adams netted 16 points while both junior F Matthew Hezekiah and freshman F Shaquille Mitchell contributed 10 points. Hezekiah finished with nine rebounds and six offensive boards, both of which were game highs.


CAROLINA ON MY MIND, TAKE II:

The Bulldogs arrive in Newark with a 3-2 record. Aside from its win over NJIT, SC State has wins against Division II Claflin University and NAIA Webber International. The Bulldogs most recently suffered an 83-55 home loss to Albany University.

In that game, Albany got off to a fast 11-0 lead and never trained. The Great Danes shot 53.4 percent (31-58) overall and 51.7 percent (15-29) from beyond the arc while out-rebounded the Bulldogs, 37-26.

After draining 10-19 (.526) three-point attempts against NJIT, SC State completed just 3-16 (.189) against Albany.

The Bulldogs were led by Mitchell with 13 points, while Toombs and Adams netted 12 apiece.

Adams, a JUCO transfer from Brevard (FL) Community College, leads the team in scoring at 17.0 ppg and is shooting 56.9 percent from the floor and 57.1 percent from three-point territory. Toombs is averaging 16.8 ppg and is connecting at 52.4 percent from downtown.

Hezekiah is contributing 12.2 ppg and a team-leading 10.7 rpg in his first year since arriving from Florida State College (Jacksonville, Fla). The 6-10 junior transfer was held to 10 points and nine rebounds in the first meeting with NJIT.

In 2011-12, SC State finished at 5-26 – the worst record in program history – and became the first MEAC team in 25 years to go winless in conference play (0-16). In the process, the Bulldogs set a school record with a 16-game losing streak and were bounced in the first round of the MEAC Tournament for the first time since 1991. Only Binghamton (344) of the AEC finished with a lower RPI than SC State (343).

The Bulldogs have turned the roster over with nine departures and only one returning starter, and the make-over has allowed Head Coach Tim Carter to add a handful of transfers that have provided an immediate impact.


Fans can follow all the action live on www.njithighlanders.com, which will carry a live video stream and webcast play-by-play and commentary from Matt Provence, as well as an in-game real-time stat feed. Audio coverage begins at 1:45 p.m. with tip-off set for 2 p.m.


Write-up courtesy of Matt Provence