BALTIMORE, MD - The NJIT men's basketball team dropped an America East contest to UMBC on Wednesday evening, falling 73-69 at the Chesapeake Insurance Bank Arena.

The Retrievers are now 8-10 overall this season and 3-4 in America East action, while NJIT is also 8-10 on the year, and is now 3-5 in America East play.

Souleymane Diakite won the opening tip of the Highlanders and scored on the first possession to put NJIT in front 2-0 early, before UMBC immediately answered with a three-pointer to take a 3-2 lead.

The teams traded the lead five more times in the first half, before the Highlanders eventually took a 38-34 lead into the locker room at halftime. Miles Coleman led all scorers with 16 points in the first half, while Matt Faw returned after missing four games with an ankle injury to provide a spark off the bench, scoring nine points, grabbing five rebounds, and blocking three shots in the first 20 minutes. As a team, NJIT shot 70.0% (7-of-10) from three-point range in the first half, led by Coleman's 4-of-5 effort from deep.

UMBC scored the first seven points of the second half to go back in front, but the Highlanders answered fast and went back in front 43-42 on a three-pointer from Dylan O'Hearn with 16:46 to play.

Diakite followed O'Hearn's triple with several nifty moves in the post to help NJIT jump out to a game-high seven-point lead 53-46 with just over 12 minutes on the clock.

The Highlanders were unable to increase that margin and the Retrievers chipped away and tied the game with a three-pointer from Nathan Johnson with 8:11 to play.

Antwuan Butler immediately answered with a three-pointer of his own to put the visitors back in front by three, but that was NJIT's last lead of the evening as a 7-0 UMBC run put the hosts in front 64-59 with just under four minutes left. 

The Highlanders didn't go down without a fight, however, cutting the deficit to one on several occasions and Butler had a potential game-tying three-point attempt rattle off the rim with 28 seconds left.

UMBC hit its final four foul shots to clinch the win in a game that saw NJIT shoot just 4-of-10 from the foul line.

Coleman finished with 19 points to lead the Highlanders, while Faw just missed out on a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds. James Lee (12 points), Butler (10 points), and Diakite (10 points) all scored in double figures as NJIT had five different players with 10+ points for the first time this season. 

Kennedy led all scorers with 31 points.

Wednesday's loss was the Highlanders first this season when out-shooting their opponent..

NJIT returns to action on Saturday with another America East contest, this time taking on UAlbany at the Wellness and Events Center. Tip-off is slated for 7pm in Newark. Read Full Article