NJIT Game Highlights (video courtesy of Iona)


NEW ROCHELLE, NY -- Iona (7-3) posted an 18-2 run in the first half en route to a 94-80 win over NJIT (5-7) on Wednesday night at Hynes Athletic Center in New Rochelle.
 
After a layup from freshman Anthony Tarke tied things at 17 apiece for NJIT with 11:38 left in the first half, Iona's Taylor Bessick hit a layup on the other end to kickstart the afore-mentioned 18-2 run for the hosts.
 
Following the run, the Highlanders were not able to get closer than eight the rest of the way as the Gaels had an answer on the other end.
 
With 2:09 to play in the opening stanza, junior guard Chris Jenkins hit a three to cut the deficit to eight at 37-29. However, Jon Severe sank a triple of his own on the other end to stretch the lead back to double digits for the Gaels who took a 42-32 advantage into the locker room.
 
The triple from Severe was one of his three on the night and Iona hit 10-of-25 (40.0%) from beyond the arc.
 
Senior guard Damon Lynn sank 7-of-17 (41.1%) from downtown on his way to a game-high 28 points for NJIT. He was joined in double figures by senior forward Tim Coleman (15 points, 12 rebounds) and Jenkins (13 points).
 
Tarke added nine points and three steals off the bench for head coach Brian Kennedy's squad.
 
With the 12 rebounds, Coleman surpassed Isaiah Wilkerson ('12) and became the school's all-time leading rebounder.
 
That was not the only school record he would set on the night though as the double-double marked the 13^th of the senior forward's career which is a record as well. The previous record had been shared by Wilkerson and Nesho Milosevic ('08).
 
The seven three-pointers from Lynn moved him into a tie for 12^th place on the NCAA's career three-pointers made list with 401 in his career.
 
Senior forward Jordan Washington paced Iona with 27 points on 8-of-14 shooting while Severe chipped in with 21 and sophomore guard Rickey McGill contributed 10 points, five rebounds and four assists of his own.
 
In the second half, a three-pointer from Lynn cut the deficit to nine at 52-43 with 14:05 left before Washington hit a pair of free throws on the other end to stretch the lead back to 11.
 
A layup from Tarke brought the Highlanders within 61-51 at the 10 minute mark before McGill hit a layup of his own on the other end to start a quick 6-0 spurt from the Gaels.
 
NJIT will close out the season-high five-game road trip on Saturday afternoon when they do battle with the Temple Owls (7-4). Opening tip from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia is slated for 2 p.m. 


Write-up courtesy of Joe Fitzhenry