NJIT Game Highlights (VIDEO)

Postgame Analysis with Coach Rafferty (VIDEO)

Walsh Hits Three Triples, Inc. Game-Winner (VIDEO)

Ukawuba's Definition of Rejection (VIDEO)


NEWARK, NJ – Sophomore guard Reilly Walsh buried a three with 0:49 left and the Highlanders (10-19, 2-11 ASUN) closed the game on a 20-7 run to snap a nine-game skid with a 60-56 win over Stetson (11-19, 3-10 ASUN) on Saturday afternoon at Fleisher Athletic Center in Newark.
 
The win marks the 100^th all-time against a Division I opponent in NJIT program history.
 
Stetson's Luke Doyle converted a pair of free throws with 7:15 left to open up a 49-40 advantage for the visitors, but two free throws from Anthony Tarke kickstarted the afore-mentioned 20-7 run for NJIT.
 
Senior forward Tim Coleman hit a layup with 1:39 remaining to give the Highlanders their first lead of the second half at 54-53.
 
However, the Hatters' B.J. Glasford answered with a three to put Stetson back in front before Walsh's triple put NJIT in front for good at 57-56.
 
Coleman sank a pair of free throws and Walsh hit one in the final seconds to preserve the win for head coach Brian Kennedy's squad.
 
As a team, NJIT hit 13-of-16 (81.3%) from the free-throw line and Stetson was 8-of-19 (42.1%).
 
Trailing 59-56 with the ball, Tarke got a hand on Derick Newton's three-point attempt with five seconds left that would have tied the game for the Hatters. Tarke also had a huge steal while guarding Divine Myles with 0:23 remaining on the defensive possession after Walsh had put NJIT in front. 
 
Stetson led by as many as 12 in the second half before the Highlanders put together their late rally.
 
Following the free throws from Doyle, NJIT scored the next eight points capped by a triple from junior guard Chris Jenkins to cut the lead to one with 4:59 to play.
 
Tarke notched his third double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead the way offensively for NJIT, while Coleman added 14 points and Walsh chipped in with a career-high 10 on the strength of a career-high three triples. Sophomore center Abdul Lewis contributed eight points and a game-high 11 rebounds for the hosts.
 
The 10 points from Walsh topped his previous career-high of six that had been set on two different occasions this season.
 
In five games since entering the starting lineup, Tarke is averaging 16.4 ppg and 6.0 rebounds per game.
 
Newton hit 4-of-8 from beyond the arc en route to a game-high 17 points for the Hatters, senior forward Brian Pegg tallied 12 points and Doyle added 10.
 
The Highlanders outrebounded Stetson by a 46-30 count, led by the 11 rebounds from Lewis and the 10 from Tarke. NJIT also had a significant edge on the offensive glass, 14-8, which led to a 12-7 edge on second-change points. Pegg paced Stetson with seven boards.
 
The Hatters hit four three-pointers over the first five minutes of the game and raced out to an early 16-6 advantage with 14:56 left in the opening stanza.
 
NJIT would stay within striking distance though and a late jumper from Pegg allowed Stetson to take a 34-27 lead into the locker room.
 
The Highlanders will be back in action on Thursday night at Fleisher Athletic Center when they close out the regular season with a 7 p.m. tilt against USC Upstate (17-13, 7-6 ASUN). Prior to opening tip, the senior class of Coleman, Osa Izevbuwa, Damon Lynn and Rob Ukawuba will be honored during a pregame ceremony. 



Write-up courtesy of Joe Fitzhenry