NJIT GAME HIGHLIGHTS (VIDEO)

RAFF REPORT: POSTGAME ANALYSIS

NJIT'S LEWIS CONTINUES STREAK FROM DEEP (VIDEO)


NEWARK, NJ – The NJIT Highlanders (12-13, 5-5 ASUN) put together a late rally, but fell short in a 75-70 loss to first place Florida Gulf Coast (19-8, 10-0 ASUN) on Thursday night at the Wellness and Events Center (WEC) in Newark.
 
After trailing by as many as 13 in the second half, Anthony Tarke hit a layup to kickstart a 26-13 run for NJIT that was capped by an Abdul Lewis layup which tied the game at 65 apiece with 4:02 to play.
 
On the ensuing FGCU possession, Michael Gilmore won a scramble for a loose ball in the corner and managed to flip it to Dinero Mercurius who hit a three from the wing that gave the Eagles the lead for good at 68-65.
 
The Highlanders had their chances to tie it, but were unable to get closer than three the rest of the way.
 
Florida Gulf Coast is the first team to start 10-0 in ASUN play since Belmont did so in 2010.
 
In the early going of the second half, junior guard Diandre Wilson hit a free throw to bring the Highlanders within four at 38-34 before the Eagles' Christian Terrell sank a pair of free throws on the other end to open up a 14-5 run that resulted in FGCU's largest lead of the game at 52-39.
 
Lewis had a game-high 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting (4-4 3PT) to pace the Highlanders, while Tarke added 21 and freshman guard Zach Cooks came through with nine points off the bench.
 
Lewis has now scored 20 plus points in three straight games and has knocked down all eight of his attempts from beyond the arc in that stretch.
 
Terrell had 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting off the bench and was one of five Eagles in double figures along with Zach Johnson (15 points), Brandon Goodwin (14 points, nine rebounds), Antravious Simmons (12 points) and Mercurius (10 points).
 
Florida Gulf Coast shot 55.6% (25-of-45) from the floor and 57.1% (8-of-14) from beyond the arc, while the Highlanders checked in at 44.6% (25-of-56) from the field and 37.5% (9-of-24) from deep.
 
The Eagles scored seven of the first nine points out of the gate in this one, but the Highlanders rallied and took one of their two leads on the night with a Reilly Walsh layup that gave the hosts a 17-16 edge at the 9:45 mark of the opening stanza.
 
Florida Gulf Coast embarked on a 14-6 run over the next four plus minutes to stretch the lead to seven before taking a 35-29 lead into the locker room.
 
The Highlanders look to bounce back on Saturday when Stetson (10-17, 2-8 ASUN) comes to the WEC for a 4 p.m. tip. NJIT's lone senior, guard Chris Jenkins, will be honored in a pregame ceremony.


Write-up courtesy of Joe Fitzhenry