NEWARK, NJ - The NJIT men's basketball team played its final road non-conference game of the season on Thursday, falling to host South Florida 92-73 at the Yuengling Center.

The teams went back-and-forth early, thanks in part to graduate student Adam Hess who knocked down four early three-pointers, and five total in the first half. 

A late 8-0 first half run from USF gave the hosts a 49-40 lead at the break. Hess finished with 15 points in the first 20 minutes, tying his season-high on just six field goal attempts. Hess wasn't the only Highlander contribute in the opening half as Miles Coleman added 12 points in the first 20 minutes.

The Bulls continued the momentum into the second half, using an early 15-0 run to go ahead by a game-high 24 points with 12;57 remaining in the contest.

Hess and Coleman continued to pace the NJIT offense after halftime and were able to cut the margin down to 15 on two occasions, before USF took the game by a final margin of 19.

The 23-points by Hess were the most of his NCAA career, topping his 20-point total early last season in a game for Eastern New Mexico State. Coleman, a Florida native, finished with 21 points on 7-for-15 shooting. 

Kevin Osawe, the reigning America East Player of the Week, added nine points and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.

Keeshawn Mason also gave a solid effort off the bench, scoring a season-high eight points .

Raheim Sullivan and Mekhi Gray eached dished out four assists in the loss for the Highlanders, who played Thursday's game without starting center Souleymane Diakite and veteran reserve Da'Mir Faison. 

The Highlanders will take a short break for the holidays before returning to action on Tuesday when they wrap up non-conference play against St. Elizabeth. Tip-off is scheduled for 7pm at the Wellness and Events Center in Newark.