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BURLINGTON, VT - The NJIT men's basketball team knew their America East Conference debut would be a tough one, drawing league favorite and perennial power Vermont in the opener, and the Catamounts proved their stature, flexing their muscles early and often en route to a 92-78 victory on Sunday in Patrick Gymnasium on the UVM campus.

NJIT dropped to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in America East action while Vermont, which was tabbed to win the conference for the fifth-straight season, improved to 2-1 on the season, with all three contests being conference games.

The Catamounts raced out to a 15-0 lead before a free throw from Dylan O'Hearn got the Highlanders on the board with 14:50 on the clock. 

A Stef Smith jumper with just over seven minutes to play put the hosts up a game-high 27 points, 41-14, but the Highlanders were able to cut into the lead before halftime and headed into the locker rooms trailing 52-33. Smith and teammate Ryan Davis each had a game-high 14 points after 20 minutes as Vermont shot an impressive 20-for-31 (64.5%) from the field and 10-of-16 (62.5%) from long range in the first half. 

The squads traded baskets for much of the second half with the margin staying between 16 and 23 until a late 10-2 run from the Highlanders made the final score 92-78.

Smith, a Preseason First Team All-America East selection, finished with a game-high 27 points, while Davis tallied 22.

NJIT senior captain Zach Cooks, who joined Smith as one of five Preseason All-America East selections, recorded his fourth-career double-double, scoring 24 points and grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds. The 5-10 guard also tied his career high with five of the teams eight steals on Sunday.

The 12 boards from Cooks helped give NJIT a 36-35 advantage on the glass, marking the first time this season they out-rebounded their opponents. 

Cooks was one of four Highlanders in double figures as San Antonio Brinson (12 points), Miles Coleman (11 points) and Dylan O'Hearn (10 points) each scored at least 10. Cooks and O'Hearn have scored in double figures in each of the squad's three games this season. Redshirt freshman Jason Murphy drained both of his free throw attempts to score the first two points of his collegiate career.

The Catamounts are now 70-7 in their last 77 America East contests, including tournament action. The seven conference losses in the last four seasons are the third-least in the nation, just behind Gonzaga (four) and New Mexico State (six). 

NJIT will look to bounce back when the Highlanders and Vermont meet again on Monday back in Patrick Gymnasium. Tip-off is slated for 2pm and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.