NJIT Highlights

DURHAM, NH - The NJIT men's basketball team is officially back to its winning ways as the Highlanders won their second-straight game on Wednesday, grinding past host New Hampshire 60-55 in America East action at Lundholm Gymnasium.

The Highlanders improved to 10-12 on the season and 5-7 in America East play, while New Hampshire is now 10-10 overall and 5-6 in conference action. NJIT is now just 2.5 games out of second place with six more games left on the regular season schedule. 

Matt Faw opened the scoring on Wednesday, setting the tone for the evening, making a hook shot for the first two of his season-high 18 points. 

UNH answered Faw's bucket with a three-pointer to take their first lead before the teams traded the lead eight times before halftime. Neither team led by more than three points in the back-and-forth first half, as NJIT held a 30-27 lead at halftime despite leading scorer Miles Coleman being held scoreless in just four minutes of action due to foul trouble.

Coleman got going right from the onset of the second half, scoring four quick points to help the Highlanders increase their lead to six at the first media timeout. 

The Wildcats were able to cut that advantage to two with 14:12 on the clock, but another bucket from Faw and an old-fashioned three-point play from Coleman brought the lead back to seven just over one minute later. 

NJIT led by at least three points for the next eight minutes, but New Hampshire's Jayden Martinez made a layup with 5:46 to play that cut the margin to one, 47-46. The Highlanders were able to get it back up to give by the four minute media timeout thanks to Coleman and Antwuan Butler, who each made a pair of free throws.

The five-point lead was short-lived, however, as New Hampshire scored four straight to one again get within a point.

NJIT led 53-52 with 47 seconds remaining when Coleman got to the rim and made a tough layup, despite being fouled. Coleman missed the free throw, but a hustle play from Eyal Nankin helped the Highlanders keep possession and Dylan O'Hearn scored on a driving layup to put NJIT back up by five with less than 30 seconds to play.

The Highlanders made their free throws down the stretch to hold on for the impressive road victory considering the fact that the Wildcats entered the game 8-1 on their home floor this season. 

Coleman finished with 15 points to join Faw in double figures, while Mekhi Gray scored nine and O'Hearn chipped in with seven. Faw and O'Hearn each played all 40 minutes on Wednesday and Butler nearly did the same, only coming out for 28 seconds. Faw also blocked three shots for the second-consecutive game and now has 29 for the season, the second-most in the America East. 

The Highlanders will look to make it three in a row on Saturday when they host Hartford in the first of two straight games at the Wellness and Events Center. Tip-off is slated for 7pm in Newark.