Game Highlights (VIDEO)

NJIT's Kennedy, Wilson Postgame Comments (VIDEO)

The Raff Report: Postgame Analysis (VIDEO)

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NEWARK, NJ – The NJIT Highlanders (7-6) used a 19-5 run over the final 4:41 of the first half to take control of the game en route to a 99-53 win over Division III foe Bryn Athyn (6-4) on Friday afternoon at the Wellness and Events Center (WEC) in Newark.
 
NJIT has now won two straight and seven of their first nine at the WEC.
 
The Highlanders are 21-0 all-time against Division III foes and 28-0 against non-Division I opponents.
 
Sophomore forward Taj Price hit a three at the 4:41 mark to kickstart the 19-5 run as NJIT took a 43-27 lead into the locker room. A layup from Zach Cooks with 0:31 left in the first half capped the run for the hosts.
 
Price had six of his season-high eight points during the stretch. The two three-pointers for Price marked the first of his career.
 
With the win, the Highlanders are now 7-6 through 13 games for the second time in program history (2015-16).
 
Junior guard Diandre Wilson paced NJIT with 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting (4-of-5 from three) and was joined in double figures by sophomore forward Anthony Tarke (14 points, six rebounds) and freshman guard David Kachelries who added a career-high 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
 
Mohamed Bendary contributed nine points on 4-of-4 shooting for the Highlanders and four different players added eight points apiece.
 
Wilson has scored in double digits in three straight games and is averaging 15.0 ppg during that stretch.
 
NJIT shot 54.2% (39-72) from the floor and 34.4% (11-32) from beyond the arc.
 
Rahim Washington led the way for the Lions with 16 points on the strength of three triples, Christian Rivera added eight points and Devante Laws chipped in with seven of his own.
 
The Highlanders came storming out of the gate in this one, scoring 16 of the first 20 points in the game as a three from Wilson opened up a 16-4 advantage at the 13:32 mark of the opening stanza.
 
Washington responded with a jumper of his own on the other end to open up an 18-8 run for Bryn Athyn that brought the visitors within a pair at 24-22 with 4:54 to play in the first half. Eight of Washington's 16 points in the game came during the run.
 
NJIT opened the second half with a 28-10 run in the first 8:31 as a jumper from junior forward Abdul Lewis made it a 71-37 game in favor of the hosts for the time being.
 
Head coach Brian Kennedy's squad led by as many as 47 with a minute left in the game.
 
NJIT outrebounded the Lions by a 53-28 margin, led by a career-high nine rebounds from freshman forward San Antonio Brinson. Rivera paced Bryn Athyn with five boards.
 
The Highlanders hit the road on Thursday to battle the Buffalo Bulls (7-5) of the Mid-American Conference. Opening tip from Alumni Arena in Buffalo is set for 7 p.m. and the game can be seen on ESPN3.


Write-up courtesy of Joe Fitzhenry