NEWARK, NJ– The NJIT men's basketball team wraps up its non-conference schedule on Tuesday when the Highlanders host Saint Elizabeth in the Wellness and Events Center.

Game Information
Tip-off is slated for 7pm inside the Wellness and Events Center on the campus of NJIT. The game will be streamed on ESPN+, with Adam Dobrowolski and Ryan Peters on the call. 

Last Time Out: USF 92, NJIT 73 | Thurs. 12/22 in Tampa, FL
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. 

NJIT vs...CSE
Tuesday's matchup between the Highlanders and Eagles is the second all-time, with NJIT taking the first 76-43 last season in Newark. Dylan O'Hearn and Matt Faw each scored 16 points to pace the Highlanders, while Miles Coleman chipped in with 14.

NJIT vs. Non-Division I Opponents
Since moving to Division I in 2006-07, NJIT is 31-0 all-time vs. non-Division I opponents. 

Like Fine Wine
NJIT will feature one of the oldest rosters in the country this season as the team's average age on opening night is 22.7 years old. Kevin Osawe and Adam Hess both turned 24 prior to the season, while Souleymane Diakite, Kjell de Graaf, Justin Anderson, Raheim Sullivan, and Miles Coleman are all 23.

Kevin Osawe - AE Player of the Week
Kevin Osawe was honored for his 16-point, 13-rebound performance in Sunday's victory over Niagara. Osawe is the first Highlander to recieve a weekly award this season.

Highlander Highlights
*    Tuesday's game is the 11th of the 2022-23 season -- which marks NJIT's 17th participating in Division I, third as a member of the America East and sixth in the Wellness & Events Center (WEC).
*    Adam Hess was on fire in NJIT's most recent game, making 7-of-8 three-point attempts en route to a career-high 23 points. 
*     The Highlanders earned their second victory of the season on 12/18, a 62-53 home win over Niagara. Kevin Osawe came off the bench to post his second double-double of the season and was named America East Player of the Week following his 16-point, 13-rebound performance.
*    Miles Coleman poured in a career-high 33 points in NJIT's win at Sacred Heart. It was Coleman's third-straight game with 23 or more points and the 10th time in 43 career games he has scored at least 20.
*    The 85 points at Sacred Heart were the most by an NJIT team in regulation since it scored 90 vs. Wagner on Nov. 16, 2019. The Highlanders scored 90 last season in a 2OT W at Lafayette.
*    Souleymane Diakite played in his 100th career game at Army West Point. He and and Kjell de Graaf are both in their fifth seasons with the Highlanders. Da'mir Faison is the next most-tenured Highlander as he is in his fourth season with the program.  
*    Six of NJIT's 14 players have completed their undergraduate degrees and are working towards their Master's. Souleymane Diakite and Kjell de Graaf graduated from NJIT last May, while Justin Anderson (Bloomsburg), Adam Hess (E. New Mexico St.), Kevin Osawe (Arkansas-Little Rock), and Raheim Sullivan (Marist) come to NJIT from other institutions.
*    Six NJIT players are averaging 6+ ppg, no Highlander has started all 11 games this season.

Up Next
The Highlanders open up America East play on Saturday afternoon when they host UMass Lowell. Tip-off is slated for 2pm in the WEC.

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