HIGHLIGHTS: Stetson vs. NJIT

NEWARK, NJ – The NJIT Highlanders (19-9, 7-6 ASUN) defeated the Stetson Hatters (6-22, 2-11 ASUN) at the Wellness and Events Center on Wednesday, 82-77.

TICKETS: Final Regular Season Home Game | Liberty vs. NJIT | Friday, March 1

Sophomore Zach Cooks led the team in scoring with 21 points and played all 40 minutes of the game. Diandre Wilson followed with 13 points while Abdul Lewis added 12 points.

The win was the Highlanders' 19^th of the season, a program record for regular season victories, breaking the previous record of 18 set back in 2014-15.

San Antonio Brinson was heavily involved in the offense early, scoring NJIT's first bucket and dishing out the next two assists to Lewis and Shyquan Gibbs.

NJIT would finish with 22 assists from eight different players, their third best total of the season.

After a short run from Stetson, NJIT regained the lead and momentum when Shawndale Jones buried a hard-earned layup and drew the foul.

NJIT went on a run hitting seven of eight field goals into the eight-minute media timeout.

The Hatters were able to keep pace with some impressive shooting of their own, hitting 50% of their field goals and 8-11 three pointers in the half with 26 points off the bench.

Gibbs and Brinson knocked down back-to-back threes followed by a pair of Diandre Wilson free throws to open up an 8-0 run.

The Highlanders finished the first half shooting 58% from the field buried 3-4 last three pointers to take a five-point lead into the locker room, 48-43.

NJIT emerged sluggish after the break, shooting just 23% from the field through the 12-minute media timeout, allowing Stetson to take charge.

Donovan Greer entered the game off the bench in the second half after missing the last three games due to injury. He played three minutes in his return.

Sophomores Zach Cooks and Brinson provided the opening 11 points for NJIT, including a stretch of eight consecutive for Cooks, but the Hatters opened up a 12-2 run to increase their lead to nine points by the six-minute mark.

The comeback began with Diego Willis who drained a three pointer with five minutes remaining to trim the lead to six points.

Strong defending by NJIT ensued as Lewis hit a free throw and Gibbs knocked down a contested mid-range jumper to cut the lead to three with just under three minutes to play.

Wilson hit a clutch three pointer to tie the game at the two-minute mark as the Highlanders opened up a 9-0 run.

After another defensive stop, Brinson found Lewis in the paint who tossed in the go-ahead layup with 90 seconds remaining.

Stetson was unable to create any offense the remainder of the game as Cooks added four free throws to finish off an incredible 17-3 run in the final six minutes to earn the victory.

The Highlanders leave for their final road trip of the regular season, beginning at Jacksonville on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. ET. (TV: ESPN+)

NJIT then heads to Nashville, Tenn., where they will take on the ASUN's second ranked team, Lipscomb, on Monday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET. (TV: ESPN+)

Finally, the Highlanders return home for their final regular season home game on Friday, March 1, when they host ASUN leaders Liberty at 7 p.m. ET.

Tickets are available for purchase on www.NJITtix.com.