ALBANY, NY - The NJIT men's basketball team was defeated by host UAlbany, 71-56, in America East action on Saturday afternoon at the SEFCU Arena.

The Highlanders are now 8-7 on the season and 3-2 in America East play, while the Great Danes improved to 6-10 overall and 2-2 in conference action. 

Matt Cerruti opened up the scoring, draining a field goal in the paint to put UAlbany up 2-0 just over one minute into the game.

NJIT answered with a 9-3 run, getting three-pointers from James Lee, Dylan O'Hearn, and Antwuan Butler to go ahead 9-5. The hosts scored the next 10 points to go back in front, this time 15-9, at the midway point of the first half.

The Highlanders went on the next run, scoring seven of the next eight points to tie the contest at 16-16.

Albany's next run broke the game open as the Great Danes scored 13 in a row to go ahead by double digits and ended the half on a 15-2 run to take a 31-18 lead into the locker room at halftime. 

Cerruti opened up the second half with a three-pointer to make the lead 16 and UAlbany was able to get it to as many as 21 several times in the second half before ultimately winning by the 15-point margin. 

After a scoreless first half, Miles Coleman tallied 20 points after halftime for the Highlanders. The senior made all nine of his second half free throw attempts and is now averaging 16.2 ppg, which ranks tops on the team and second in the America East Conference. 

Butler joined Coleman in double figures, scoring 10 points to go along with a game- and season-high seven assists. The senior also grabbed five rebounds and turned the ball over just once in 38 minutes of action on Saturday. 

Lee also had a productive game for the Highlanders after missing Wednesday's contest due to COVID-19 protocol, scoring nine points and grabbing eight rebounds. Souleymane Diakite was the team's leading rebounder, grabbing a game-high nine boards as NJIT out-rebounded UAlbany 40-38.

For the game, the Highlanders shot 30.9% from the field, their second-lowest shooting percentage of the season. 

NJIT will look to rebound on Wednesday when it welcomes first place Vermont to Newark. Tip-off is set for 7pm at the Wellness and Events Center.