NJIT Game Highlights (VIDEO)

Shyquan Gibbs Steps Up (VIDEO)


NEWARK, NJ – The Highlanders (9-14, 1-6 ASUN) rallied late, but fell short in a 66-62 loss to the Lipscomb Bison (13-11, 5-2 ASUN) on Saturday afternoon at Fleisher Athletic Center in Newark.
 
Freshman Anthony Tarke buried a three with 2:22 left to tie things at 57 apiece for NJIT before Lipscomb's Rob Marberry hit a layup on the other end to give the visitors the lead for good with two minutes remaining.
 
The Highlanders cut the lead to two on a couple of different occasions in the final minute, but were unable to get any closer.
 
Lipscomb held a four-point lead at the break and started the second half on a 7-0 run to stretch the lead to double digits at 37-26 with 18:15 to play.
 
The Bison led by as many as 14 in the final stanza before Tarke hit a pair of threes during a 15-1 run that resulted in the tie game with 2:22 to play.
 
Tarke sank all five of his attempts from the field and had 15 points off the bench for head coach Brian Kennedy's squad. Sophomore center Abdul Lewis posted a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Highlanders and freshman guard Shyquan Gibbs hit 5-of-6 from the field en route to a career-high 14 points.
 
The double-double from Lewis-the reigning ASUN Newcomer of the Week-was his fifth of the season.
 
Garrison Mathews paced Lipscomb with 21 points and 10 rebounds while Nathan Moran added 14 points and Marberry chipped in with 12.
 
As a team, NJIT hit 20-of-38 (52.6%) from the field and held Lipscomb to 19-of-54 (35.2%) from the floor.
 
In the early going, the Highanders' Mohamed Bendary hit a layup to cut the lead to 9-8 before Lipscomb embarked on a 19-8 run capped by a triple from Eli Pepper to open up a 28-16 advantage.
 
However, the Highlanders would respond as senior guard Rob Ukawuba converted a three-point play on the other end to start a 10-2 run that closed the half and cut the deficit to four heading into the locker room.
 
Lipscomb outrebounded NJIT by a 35-28 margin, which marked the first time in conference play that the Highlanders had been outrebounded.
 
Lewis's 12 boards led the way for the hosts while Matthews' 10 boards paced the Bison.
 
NJIT will be back in action on Monday night when they host the Kennesaw State Owls at Fleisher Athletic Center. Opening tip is slated for 7 p.m.


Write-up courtesy of Joe Fitzhenry