Game Highlights (VIDEO)


EASTON, PA -- Despite leading for most of the night, the Highlanders (1-2) dropped an 84-83 overtime heartbreaker to Lafayette (2-1) on Thursday night at Kirby Sports Center in Easton, Pa.
 
With the Lafayette win, the Leopards have won all five meetings in Easton and the home team has emerged victoriously in each of the last six matchups in the all-time series.
 
Senior guard Nick Lindner sank a pair of free throws with 2:00 left in the extra session to give the Leopards the lead for good at 82-81.
 
Lindner scored a game-high 25 points to go along with seven rebounds and six assists.
 
With NJIT trailing 84-83 in the final seconds of overtime, senior Tim Coleman had a game-winning shot attempt. The co-captain drove into the lane and got off an eight-footer, but his fadeaway jumper rimmed out at the buzzer.
 
NJIT held a 70-61 advantage with 4:09 left in regulation before Lafayette embarked on a 12-0 run to take their first lead of the night.
 
Lindner scored five points during the run and his three-pointer with 2:02 left gave the hosts a 71-70 lead before freshman Hunter Janaceck capped the run with a layup.
 
The Highlanders would battle back though, as a triple from senior guard Damon Lynn tied things at 75 apiece with 0:49 to play. Lindner quickly responded with a layup to give the lead back to the Leopards, but Coleman forced overtime as he sank a pair of free throws on the other end with 0:25 remaining.
 
Lynn led the way for head coach Brian Kennedy's squad with 24 points while Coleman (15 points, eight rebounds, five assists) and Abdul Lewis (13 points, 12 rebounds) joined him in double figures. Freshman Anthony Tarke chipped in with eight points and nine rebounds off the bench.
 
Lynn -- the nation's active leader in career three-pointers made (364) -- hit 5-of-11 from beyond the arc as the Highlanders combined to shoot 10-of-25 (40.0%) from deep. Junior Chris Jenkins (6 points) sank a pair of treys, as well.
 
To go along with Lindner's 25 points, the Leopards featured strong offensive contributions from junior Matt Klinewski (20 points) and Janacek (11 points). Klinewski also added 11 rebounds for the hosts.
 
NJIT appeared to take control of the game with a 17-5 run midway through the second half as a one-point lead ballooned to 13 at 57-44 with 11:13 remaining. Over the next seven minutes, Lafayette was not able to get closer than five.
 
Klinewski's jumper with 3:53 to play kickstarted the 12-0 run that gave them the lead.
 
The Highlanders shot 23-of-35 (65.7%) from the charity stripe while the Leopards knocked down 15-of-17 (88.2%).
 
In the first half, NJIT led 18-13 before a jumper from Coleman ignited an 18-8 run which resulted in the largest lead of the game for the visitors at 36-21 with 4:29 left in the opening stanza.
 
However, the Leopards answered with a 7-0 run of their own to pull within 36-28 heading into the locker room.
 
The Highlanders held a 45-40 edge on the boards over Lafayette, led by the 12 rebounds from Lewis.
 
NJIT will look to bounce back on Saturday afternoon when they return home to host the Colgate Raiders (1-1). Opening tip from Fleisher Athletic Center is slated for 4 p.m. 


Write-up courtesy of Joe Fitzhenry