VIDEO: NJIT Highlights | Postgame Interview with Brian Kennedy

NEWARK, NJ - The NJIT men's basketball team fell 45-41 to Maine in a defensive slugfest on Sunday in the final contest of a two-game America East series.

Both squads struggled offensively, but the Black Bears (2-5, 2-4 America East) got a huge three-pointer from Precious Okoh with 1:36 to play to break a 37-37 tie and held on to defeat the Highlanders (4-4, 3-3 America East) a day after NJIT earned a 63-54 victory.

"All the credit goes to Maine," said Head Coach Brian Kennedy. "They out-played us today."

Stephane Igno followed up Okoh's triple with a pair of free throws to give Maine a five-point lead with just 35 seconds on the clock. 

San Antonio Brinson drained two free throw attempts of his own to cut the margin back to three and a pair of missed free throws from the Black Bears with 25 seconds left gave the Highlanders a chance to tie the game. Dylan O'Hearn, who entered the game shooting better than 50.0% from three-point range got a great look, but his three-point attempt went in-and-out and Maine was able to corral the rebound. Igno drained two more free throws to build the lead back to five and all but seal the win.

Sunday's contest was close throughout, featuring seven ties and seven lead changes as neither team led by more than seven points. 

NJIT shot a season-low 25.0% (14-of-56) from the field, including under 6.0% from three-point range (1-of-17). 

Souleymane Diakite scored NJIT's first six points of the game and finished with 10 points and eight rebounds, while Brinson also scored 10 and grabbed seven boards. Zach Cooks led the Highlanders in rebounds with nine to help the hosts out-rebound their opponent (42-36) for the second-straight game.

LeChaun Duhart paced the Black Bears with 15 points, while Igno recorded his fourth-straight double-double, totaling 10 points and 12 rebounds, while also blocking six shots. 

NJIT has now split all three of its America East series, while Maine has split two of three. 

The Highlanders will look to get back into the win column next Saturday when they travel to Albany for the first of two games against the Great Danes. Tip-off is slated for 5pm on Saturday and the teams will return to the court to play again at 3pm on Sunday.