Game Highlights (Video)


LOGAN, UT -- Senior guard Damon Lynn tied a career-high and NJIT's D-I single-game record with 34 points, but the Highlanders (1-1) fell short in a 93-84 loss to Utah State (2-0) on Monday night at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum in Logan, Utah.
 
Lynn had previously scored 34 points at North Carolina A&T on Jan. 18, 2014.  
 
The Hillside, N.J., native shot 11-of-23 from the field and hit six more treys, while sinking all six of his free throws. The nation's active leader in career three-pointers made seemed to will his team -- which trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half -- back into the game. 
 
After NJIT erased a nine-point halftime deficit to take a 62-60 lead on a three-point play from senior Rob Ukawuba with 8:39 to play, Shane Rector's three jumpstarted a quick 6-0 spurt for Utah State that gave them a lead they wouldn't relinquish at 66-62.
 
Lynn quickly responded with one of his six triples on the night to trim the deficit to one, but Utah State's Jalen Moore hit a three of his own on the other end to make it 69-65 in favor of the Aggies with 6:53 to play.
 
Following the three from Moore, NJIT did not get closer than three the rest of the way as the Aggies seemingly had an answer for each Highlander bucket down the stretch.
 
"We knew coming out here that we were playing a very good Utah State team. We were hoping to give ourselves a chance to be in the game late and our kids fought hard to put us in that position" head coach Brian Kennedy said. "I'm proud of the way they competed tonight."
 
Moore led the way for Utah State with 19 points on the night and was one of five players to finish with double figures for head coach Tim Duryea's squad. Koby McEwen (18 points) and Sam Merrill (15 points) also played key roles offensively.
 
The Aggies shot 10-of-23 (43.5%) from beyond the arc, led by Moore and Merrill who each sank three apiece.
 
For NJIT, Lynn was joined in double figures by fellow seniors Tim Coleman (16 points) and Ukawuba (12 points, six assists, five rebounds). Freshman Anthony Tarke turned in another strong all-around effort with seven points, four rebounds and a pair of steals off the bench.
 
Utah State outrebounded the Highlanders by a 34-28 count. Ukawuba paced the visitors with his five boards.
 
A three-pointer from Coleman gave NJIT their first lead of the game at 59-58 with 9:40 left in the game, but a Norbert Janicek layup gave the Aggies the lead back.
 
Both teams shot well from the charity stripe as the Highlanders hit 17-of-23 (73.9%) and Utah State sank 23-of-31 (74.5%).
 
After Ukawuba hit a layup to tie things at 12 apiece in the early going, the hosts embarked on a 27-13 run over the next nine minutes to open up a 39-25 advantage.
 
However, NJIT battled back and brought themselves within single digits at 46-37 heading into the locker room.
 
They would carry the momentum into the second half as they started the final stanza on a 22-12 run capped by Coleman's trey.
 
The next two opponents on tap for the Highlanders are a pair of Patriot League foes in Lafayette and Colgate. NJIT will head to Lafayette for a 7 p.m. tip on Thursday at Kirby Sports Center before returning home to Fleisher Athletic Center to host Colgate at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
 
 
Write-up courtesy of Joe Fitzhenry