VIDEO: NJIT Highlights | Post-game Interviews | Raff Report

Newark, NJ - The NJIT men's basketball team used a true team effort to roll past visiting Lipscomb, 75-57, in front of a season-high 2,016 fans on Education Day at the Wellness and Events Center.

"I haven't heard it that loud in here in a while, the kids were awesome today," said Head Coach Brian Kennedy. "There's no question that NJIT is a high-academic institution, and it was a great opportunity for local elementary and middle school students to see what college is all about and then finish the day off with a basketball game."

NJIT's win was its second-straight and the Highlanders are now 5-12 on the season and 2-2 in ASUN play, while Lipscomb dropped to 7-11 overall and 2-3 in ASUN action.

All five Highlanders' starters scored at least eight points and recorded at least three assists as NJIT shot 58.2% (32-of-55) from the field and dished out a season-high 22 assists, breaking their previous high of 17 in a November win vs. Wagner. 

Georgia natives Zach Cooks (24 points) and San Antonio Brinson (17 points) carried the load offensively, while Reilly Walsh (11 points), Shyquan Gibbs (nine points) and Souleymane Diakite (eight points) also chipped in. Gibbs and Walsh tallied five assists each, as Cooks and Brinson had four and Diakite finished with three helpers. 

"Our coaches have been telling us to get our teammates looks," explained Cooks. "We're getting into the lane and passing up good shots and dishing it out or down low for better shots."

The Bisons scored the first basket of the game and then led twice more, 4-2 and 6-4, before the Highlanders responded with a 12-2 run to take control. 

NJIT's lead grew to as many as 17 in the first half and was 16, 47-31, at halftime as the Highlanders were 20-of-30 (66.7%) from the field with 14 assists in the first half. 

Lipscomb struck first in the second half, scoring the first seven points to make it a nine-point game, but NJIT answered with a run of its own and once again led by 16 at the 14:40 mark. 

The Bisons were unable to get any closer than 11 the rest of the way as the Highlanders led comfortably en route to the 18-point conference win. 

Walsh nearly missed his first-career double-double, finishing with a career-high nine rebounds to go along with his 11 points. The graduate student also recorded a game-high-tying three steals, as did Cooks. 

NJIT put together another strong game defensively, holding a Bisons' offense that came in averaging more than 70 points to just 57.

"We work hard on our defense daily," concluded Kennedy. "All the credit goes to the players, they're working hard."

NJIT will look to make it three-straight ASUN wins on Saturday when it hosts Kennesaw State at 4pm back in the WEC. Saturday's game will follow a 1pm contest between the women's programs from NJIT and KSU.