NJIT GAME HIGHLIGHTS (VIDEO)

2018 ASUN CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET (PDF)


SPARTANBURG, SC – Freshman Shawndale Jones scored 13 points to pace a balanced attack, as NJIT defeated USC Upstate, 76-67, at the Hodge Center on Thursday night. This road win may have been the Highlanders' most significant of the season.
 
With the victory, the Highlanders clinched fourth place in the conference and will host a quarterfinals game in the 2018 ASUN Championship on Monday against fifth-place North Florida (13-18, 7-7) -- which lost to Jacksonville in a battle for third place, 86-81. Tip-off for the first-ever postseason game at the Wellness and Events Center (WEC) is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at www.NJITtix.com.
 
The Highlanders began to pull away from the Spartans early in the second half.
 
After erasing an early 10-point deficit, NJIT held a narrow 44-42 lead at the break. Out of the locker room, the game's balance abruptly tipped the Highlanders' way.
 
Junior Shyquan Gibbs scored the first points in the second stanza, nailing a three-pointer 1:16 into the half and starting a 23-10 NJIT run. By the end of the spurt, the Highlanders held a 67-52 lead with 8:28 to go and never looked back.
 
NJIT was forced to play the game without its leader scorer, Anthony Tarke. The sophomore was a late scratch and did not play due to knee soreness.
 
Yet, the Highlanders reserves again proved the abundance of depth on Brian Kennedy's roster. The NJIT bench players outscored their counterpoints, 47-15, to make up arguably the biggest difference in the contest.

Jones entered the game for the first time at the 16:10 mark with the Highlanders trailing, 12-7. Over the next 9:34, the Pittsburgh native drained eight points -- including a pair of free-throws that tied the game, 32-32. His 13 points accounted for his highest total since he also put up 13 in the ASUN conference opener against Upstate back on Jan. 6.

Junior Donovan Greer and freshman Zach Cooks both netted 11 points off the bench while junior Diandre Wilson started and tallied 11 points, as well, to round out NJIT's double-digit scoring.
 
Although the lead flipped-flopped quite a bit in the first half -- there were eight ties and 12 lead changes -- NJIT surged ahead for good on a Mohamed Bendary jumper that put the Highlanders up, 44-42, with 45-seconds left in the session. The junior finished the contest with eight points off the bench on an efficient 4-for-5 from the floor.

Another significant factor on Thursday night was the Highlanders' hot shooting from downtown. NJIT, which entered the game leading the ASUN in three-point percentage in conference play (.400), connected on 10-of-22 (45.5%) attempts from deep – exceeding their overall shooting percentage (44.4%) for the game.

Cooks, who started the night ranked third in the AUN in three-point percentage (.440), drained 3-of-5 attempts from deep.

Greer finished 3-for-6 from beyond the arc and now holds an impressive .450 (18-for-40) shooting percentage from downtown in conference play. The Houston has come on strong down the stretch, averaging 9.3 points per game off the bench over his last four affairs.

The Highlanders were also to dominate in the paint, registering a 40-32 rebounding advantage along with a 32-14 edge in points in the paint.

Although junior Abdul Lewis (5 points) snapped his career-high streak of seven-consecutive contest in double figures, he grabbed a game-high 11 boards. The Newark native also tied with Cooks with a game-high four assists.

Junior Reilly Walsh tied his career high with eight rebounds while also contributing seven points, three assists and a steal. He also nailed a big three-pointer to during the Highlanders' run after they trailed by a game-high 10 points, 19-9, with 14:10 remaining in the first half. The Staten Island native also grabbed eight boards at FGCU on Jan. 13. 
 
After starting 0-8 away from Newark this season, NJIT has won three of its last four road contests. In fact, the third time turned out to be the charm for the Highlanders in Spartanburg after falling, 72-71, on Feb. 25, 2016, and 75-65 on Jan. 7, 2017, at the Hodge Center.
 
On Monday, NJIT seeks its first-ever win in the ASUN Tournament. As a 2-seed in 2016, the Highlanders were upset at home by No. 7 Stetson, 82-67. Last season as a 7-seed, NJIT fell at No 2 Lipscomb by a 97-66 score.
 
The Highlanders have played to the tune of a 10-6 record in Newark this season. Although posting just a 3-4 mark in conference play, NJIT defeated UNF at the WEC, 91-59, on Jan. 18. The 32-point win was NJIT's largest margin of victory in its ASUN era and since a 94-51 rout of Longwood University on Feb. 25, 2012.
 
However, the Ospreys returned the favor with an 86-75 win at UNF Arena on Feb. 17.
 
Meanwhile, the Spartans (7-24, 2-12) entered the contest already locked into the eighth seed and will start the tournament at top-seeded Florida Gulf Coast on Monday.