VIDEO: NJIT Highlights | Raff Report

NEWARK, NJ - An undermanned NJIT men's basketball team returned home after four games on the road and put together a spirited effort on Wednesday, despite falling to visiting UMass Lowell 72-66, at the Wellness and Events Center.

NJIT (2-8) played without a pair of big men in San Antonio Brinson and Kjell de Graaf and turned a seven-point halftime deficit into a lead late in the second half, but ultimately ran out of gas and was defeated by the Hawks (6-6).

"We showed a lot of fight tonight," explained Head Coach Brian Kennedy. "We had a lot of young guys play some big minutes, but in the end, no one feels sorry for us, we're going to have to keep battling."

Zach Cooks, who was honored prior to the game for scoring his 1,000th career point earlier this season, played all 40 minutes for the second-consecutive contest and led all scorers with 21 points to go along with a game-high-tying eight rebounds. 

Cooks broke a 50-50 tie going 1-for-2 from the foul line on two-straight possessions that bridged the 7:00 minute mark of the second half. The NJIT two-point lead was short-lived however, as UML scored five in a row to go ahead by three with just under five minutes to play. 

A deep jumper from Cooks got the Highlanders back within one, 55-54, but they'd get no closer as the visitors pulled away late and drained all eight of their free throws in the final 1:17 to hold on. 

Shyquan Gibbs also had a nice evening for NJIT, scoring 14 points and grabbing five rebounds. Souleymane Diakite added nine points and eight boards, as well.

"I challenged Souleymane at halftime," added Kennedy. "He responded nicely in the second half, and I'm really looking forward to him putting together a complete game soon."

Byron Breland III started the first game of his young career and made the most of it, tallying a career-best nine points, while also grabbing four rebounds.

Obadiah Noel led a balanced Hawks' offensive effort with 16 points.

One area the Highlanders did struggle on Wednesday was the free throw line, shooting just 14-of-24 from the charity stripe. 

"We gave up too many points at the line," concluded Kennedy. "The final margin may have been six, but it was real close late in the second half and our free-throw shooting was a difference. It's an area we can control and we need to get better at."

NJIT returns to action on Saturday when it travels across the Hudson and East Rivers to take on St. Francis College in Brooklyn. Tip-off is scheduled for 2pm.