THE NJIT RESUME (PDF)
 
The NJIT Highlanders men's basketball team is 11-2 and in the midst of its best season since the program's transition to Division-I for the 2006-07 season. With two non-conference games remaining before ASUN play (at University of Houston, Dec. 27; at Duquesne University on Dec. 31), here are some interesting facts about both Highlander team and individual accolades.
•    NJIT received a vote for the Associated Press Top-25 Men's College Basketball Poll each of the last two weeks (Dec. 10; Dec. 17) -- the firsts in program history.

•    NJIT currently ranks No. 25 in the CollegeInsiders.com Mid-Major Top-25 (Dec. 17).

•    At 11-2, NJIT is off to the best start in its Division-I history (13 seasons) and since the program opened 12-1 in 1994-95 – a season in which it went 28-2 and advanced to the NCAA Division-III Elite Eight.  

•    NJIT is one of just four teams in D-I with at least 11 wins, joining No. 4 University of Michigan (11-0), No. 6 University of Nevada (11-0) and No. 24 Furman University (12-0).

•    NJIT reached 11 wins at the earliest date (Dec. 15) in program history.

•    NJIT has posted at least 11 wins in its first 13 games for just the sixth time in program history at all levels -- which dates back 97 seasons to 1922-23. All prior 11-2 or 12-1 starts occurred during Division-III play (1984-85, 1988-89, 1990-01, 1992-93 and 1994-95).

•    NJIT is the only team in the ASUN with a double-digit win total.

•    NJIT is the only team in the nation with six road victories.

•    NJIT's six road victories (6-1) is a total that sits just two shy of the single-season program record of eight (8-9) during the 2015-16 season (20-15) -- and the team still has 10 road games remaining on the schedule.

•    At 11-2, NJIT is one win shy of its single-season, high-water mark of 10 games above .500 set at 21-11 on March, 28, 2015.

•    NJIT currently owns a four-game winning streak -- which ties its season-high set Nov. 6-14 in the first four contests of 2018-19.

•    NJIT has recorded wins against six different Division-I conferences: Atlantic 10, America East, Colonial Athletic Association, Ivy League, Northeast (4) and Patriot (2).
 
•    NJIT has recorded road wins against four different Division-I conferences: Atlantic 10, America East, Colonial Athletic Association and Northeast (3). 

•    NJIT owns the best record among the eight Division-I programs in the state of New Jersey:

            RK        SCHOOL                            RECORD    WINNING%                
            1.        NJIT (ASUN)                        11-2            .846 
            2.        Seton Hall (Big East)            7-3             .700
            3.        Princeton (Ivy)                      5-4             .555
            4.        Rider (MAAC)                       4-4             .500 
                       Rutgers (Big Ten)                 5-5              .500
            6.        Fairleigh Dickinson (NEC)    4-5              .444 
            7.        Saint Peter's (MAAC)           2-8              .200
            8.        Monmouth (MAAC)               0-11            .000

•    NJIT owns the third-highest NCAA NET Ranking in New Jersey behind Seton Hall (81) and Rutgers (118).

•    NJIT owns the second-best record among the 21 Division-I programs in the metropolitan area (Top-5 below):

            RK    SCHOOL                                RECORD    WINNING%                
            1.     St. John's (Big East)                 10-0            1.000
            2.     NJIT (ASUN)                             11-2             .846 
            3.     Stony Brook (America East)     10-2             .833
            4.     Fordham (Atlantic 10)                 8-3             .727
                    Hofstra (CAA)                             8-3             .727 

•    NJIT (164) owns the sixth-highest NCAA NET Ranking among the 21 Division-I programs in the metropolitan area behind St. John's (29), Seton Hall (81), Rutgers (118), Hofstra (125) and Stony Brook (145).

•    NJIT has won seven-consecutive games against metropolitan area programs dating back to Dec. 16, 2017.

•    NJIT's NCAA NET Ranking of 164 ranks higher than 93.3% (28-of-30) of teams in three local conferences. The Highlanders rank higher than seven of nine (77.8%) teams in America East (AE); all 10 (100.0%) teams in the Northeast (NEC); and all 11 (100.0%) teams in the Metro Atlantic (MAAC).

•    NJIT has won six-consecutive contests against Northeast Conference opponents

•    NJIT has sported a 106-94 (.530) record since third-year head coach Brian Kennedy joined the staff as a top assistant to Jim Engles in 2012-13.

•    Since Jan. 8, 2011, NJIT has posted an impressive 134-116 (.536) overall record in its last 250 games after the Highlanders started the Division-I era at 18-114.

•    NJIT now has a two-week layoff until a visit to University of Houston on Dec. 29 at 4 p.m. from the Fertitta Center. At 10-0, the Cougars rank 21st in the AP Top-25 and ninth in NCAA NET Rankings.
 
•    NJIT leads the nation in free-throw attempts (330) and ranks third in free-throws made (231)

•    NJIT ranks 25th in the nation in fewest turnovers committed per game (11.2)

•    NJIT ranks 47th in the nation in total rebounds (446)

•    NJIT ranks 49th in the nation in total steals (86)

•    NJIT ranks 77th in the nation in scoring defense (67.2)

•    NJIT ranks 97th in the nation in field-goal percentage defense (,411)
•    Sophomore Zach Cooks (Lawrenceville, Ga.):

    o    Ranks 1st in the ASUN in scoring at 19.2* ppg, which currently places second all-time in NJIT single-season scoring leaders behind the record of 20.6 ppg set by Damon Lynn as a senior in 2016-17 (* also ranks 74th overall in D-I -- 16th among underclassmen and seventh among sub-six-foot players)

    o    Ranks 1st in the ASUN in three-pointers made (32) and fifth in three-point FG percentage (.410)

    o    Ranks 1st in the ASUN in steals per game (2.6) -- which ranks 12th in the nation

    o    Ranks 1st in the ASUN in total steals (34) -- which ranks second in D-I behind FIU's Brandon Beard (35)

    o    Despite his five-foot-nine frame, ranks 12th in the ASUN at 5.4 rebounds per game


•    Senior Abdul Lewis (Newark, N.J.):

    o    Despite missing four games to begin his season, ranks third in the ASUN with three double-doubles

    o    Is tied for the program record for career double-doubles (16) with Tim Coleman '17

    o    Ranks 14th among all active D-I players in career rebounds with 813, which places second in the ASUN behind Lipscomb's Eli Pepper (818) 

    o    Is 22 points from 1,000 in his NCAA career between University of South Alabama (232) & NJIT (746)


•    Senior Diandre Wilson (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.):

    o    Has scored 1,681 points in his college career between Mott C.C. (NJCAA) & NJIT (NCAA)


•    Junior co-captain Shyquan Gibbs (Hillside, N.J.):

    o    Ranks fourth in the ASUN in assists-to-turnover ratio (2.6) and 11th in assists per game (2.8)

    o    Has started 56 consecutive games since his first as a freshman against North Florida on Jan. 14, 2017