FLORENCE, AL – The NJIT Highlanders (13-4; 1-1 ASUN) dropped their first ASUN Conference game to newcomers North Alabama (5-14; 2-1 ASUN), 61-55, on Saturday at Flowers Hall in Florence, AL.

San Antonio Brinson led the scoring for the Highlanders with 16, followed by Zach Cooks with 12 points.

Both teams came out of the gates slow, but kept pace with one another for a close knit opening 20 minutes.

Zach Cooks led NJIT scorers in the first half with nine points and a team-leading five rebounds.

Cooks, Diandre Wilson and Shawndale Jones all nailed one three-pointer apiece, combining for 3-8 from beyond the arc to keep the first half deficit within reach, 26-23.

Free-throw shooting was the only definitive difference in the first half, which saw the Highlanders make just 2-6 (33%) compared to North Alabama's 6-8 (75%) – a trend which would continue throughout the game for the Lions.

Brinson thrived in the second half, scoring 14 of his 16 total points in the final 20 minutes. He shot 5-9 from the field, buried a three pointer and hit 5-7 free throws.

Shawndale Jones had a strong performance coming off the bench, scoring five points and snagging two rebounds in 14 minutes on the court.

NJIT fought back to gain a 37-36 lead at the 12-minute mark, thanks to a string of field goals from Brinson, Shyquan Gibbs and a Diego Willis trifecta off the bench.

However, it was the last NJIT would see of the lead, as an inspired North Alabama, fueled by their rowdy home crowd, saw their lead grow as big as 11 points with 6:10 remaining in the game.

All in all, North Alabama led for more than 31 minutes of the game.

North Alabama's Kendarius Smith, Jamari Blackmon and Christian Agnew combined for 46 of the team's 61 points.

Despite the Highlanders finishing with the better field goal percentage (36.7%) and three-point field goal percentage (27.3%), the Lions took advantage of their trips to the line, burying 23-33 free throws.

NJIT was handicapped in the closing stages of the game, losing overall top scorer Cooks for the final 1:45 after he picked up his fifth personal foul.

The Highlanders will return home to Newark, N.J. where they await the reigning ASUN Conference tournament champions, Lipscomb, on Wednesday, January 16 at 7 p.m.

Tickets are on sale on NJITHighlanders.com. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+.