VIDEO: NJIT Highlights | Post-game Interviews with Brian Kennedy and Dylan O'Hearn | Raff Report

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NEWARK, NJ - The NJIT men's basketball team used a 16-0 second half run to come from behind and defeat Maine 63-54 in America East Conference action on Saturday at the Wellness and Events Center.

The Highlanders (4-3, 3-2 America East) 32-29 at halftime and 39-34 early in the second half, before Antwuan Butler drew an offensive foul and Dylan O'Hearn scored five-straight points to ignite the big run that saw the Black Bears (1-5, 1-4 America East) go scoreless for nearly 10 minutes.

"When we get energy and play defense like we did in the second half, that's when we are at our best," said fifth-year Head Coach Brian Kennedy. 

O'Hearn scored a game-high 22 points in the victory on 7-of-14 shooting and was 4-of-6 from three-point range, including 3-of-4 after halftime as the Highlanders hit four of their six three-point attempts in the final 20 minutes. The junior has now scored double-digits in all seven games this season. 

"Our goal was to just get a win in the home opener," explained O'Hearn. "I have a scorer's mentality. I've put a lot of time into basketball and I'm confident in my game. I was happy to help us step up and get it done today."

The first half featured five ties and four lead changes as neither team was able to build more than a six-point cushion. Maine scored eight of the final 12 points in the first half to bring the aforementioned three-point lead into halftime. 

NJIT opened up the second half with a bucket from Butler to cut the margin to just one, but the Black Bears countered with a three-pointer from Taylor Schildroth to go ahead by four.

Stephane Igno's bucket with 17:15 put the visitors up five, before the Highlanders answered with their big second half run.

After O'Hearn scored five-straight to tie the game, San Antonio Brinson and Kjell de Graaf each scored in the paint to give the Highlanders a four-point lead. Diego Willis followed up with a big blow, a three-pointer from the corner, and was fouled, which gave the junior an opportunity to complete the four-point-play and put the hosts up eight. Willis converted and NJIT led by at least eight the rest of the way until a three-pointer from the Black Bears with thirty-two seconds to play cut the gap to seven.

Brinson joined O'Hearn in double figures with 12 points and pulled down a team-best eight rebounds in 34 minutes of action. Brinson's eight boards helped the Highlanders out-rebound Maine 33-30 on the afternoon.

LeChaun DuHart scored 18 points, with just three coming after halftime, to pace Maine. Igno scored 13 and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for his third-straight double-double.

Saturday's game was NJIT's first home game in 322 days as the Highlanders finished 2019-20 with three road games and opened up the 2020-21 season with six more.

"It felt good to be back at the 'WEC'," concluded Kennedy. "With COVID-19 and the way things are, it just worked out that our first six games were on the road. I'm so proud of our players and our administration for making this happen."

NJIT and Maine will wrap up their two-game series on Sunday in Newark. Tip-off is slated for 2pm back at the Wellness and Events Center.