Box Score
Game Highlights (VIDEO)


SPARTANBURG, SC -- USC Upstate senior Michael Buchanan posted game-highs with 24 points and 15 rebounds in helping the Spartans (11-7, 1-0) hold off the Highlanders (8-9, 0-1) for a 75-65 win at the Hodge Center in the ASUN conference opener on Saturday.

Despite trailing most of the game, the Highlanders closed a 14-point deficit down to three, 66-63, on a three-point play by senior Tim Coleman with 2:03 left in regulation. However, Spartans junior Ramel Thompkins answered with a three-point field goal just 18 seconds later and NJIT would never again make it a one-possession game.

The story of this may have been entirely based on shooting percentages. Despite advantages in both rebounding (46-44) and turnover margins (12-9), NJIT could not get shots to fall in Spartanburg. The Highlanders shot 30.1-percent (22-for-73) from the floor for the game -- and just 28.9-percent (11-for-38) in the second half. Additionally, NJIT drained just five of 32 three-point attempts (15.6%).

"I thought our effort defensively and rebounding was right there. But anytime you miss 51 shots in a single game of basketball, it puts a tremendous amount of pressure on you to win a game," said NJIT Head Coach Brian Kennedy. "That said, we hung in there and had a one-possession game with under two minutes to go."

Meanwhile, the Spartans shot 45.2-percent (28-for-62) from the floor and 31.0-percent (9-for-29) from downtown. 

Coleman finished with a team-high 16 points and tied with sophomore Abdul Lewis for an NJIT-best 10 rebounds. The performance marked the 14th career double-double for the Union, N.J., native -- adding to his program record. He also dished out a team-leading four assists.

Lewis contributed a season-high 15 points for his third double-double of his NJIT career and his second over the last three contests.

"I thought Abdul played very well today," Kennedy said. "He really battled down there against Buchanan."

Senior Damon Lynn added 11 points to extend his streak of scoring in double-digits to 31 consecutive games. He also had a game-high three steals. His fellow Hillside, N.J., native Chris Jenkins added nine off the bench for the visitors.

Buchanan was joined in double figures by sophomore point guard Mike Cunnigham (13 points) and senior forward Josh Cuthbertson (12 points).  

Upstate used a 13-6 run to start the second half and open up their largest lead of the game at 50-36 with 11:38 left to play.
 
Cunnigham hit a triple in the opening minute of the second half to kick-start the 13-6 run, which was capped by a Buchanan jumper.
 
NJIT would not go quietly though as they quickly answered with a 9-0 run capped by a jumper from Lewis to cut the lead to five with 9:13 to play. The lead eventually dwindled down to as few as three points.

In the first half, Lynn sank a pair of free throws to give the Highlanders their only lead of the game at 21-19 with 8:50 left in the opening stanza. Sophomore guard Deion Holmes answered with a three for USC Upstate to kick off an 18-9 run and the hosts took a 37-30 lead into the locker room.

In fact, NJIT hit 16-of-18 (88.9%) from the charity stripe in the game while the Spartans were 10-of-18 (55.6%).

NJIT also started 0-1 in conference play with a loss to Upstate last season -- before rallying to finish in a tie for second place and finishing with the 2-seed for the ASUN Tournament. The Highlanders will now have their next two games in Newark.

"We have the next two games at home and we have to protect our home court," Kennedy said. "As I've said before, it's so important to win your home games in conference play. So we have to get back at it." 

The Highlanders next return home to host Jacksonville University (12-5) on Thursday, Jan. 12. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Fleisher Athletic Center. Tickets are available at www.NJITtix.com.


Write-up courtesy of Joe Fitzhenry.