SMITHFIELD, RI - The Bryant men's basketball team used a late first half run and played from ahead the entire second half en route to a 87-75 America East Conference victory over NJIT on Thursday evening at the Chace Athletic Center.

Thursday's game was tight throughout most of the first half as neither team led by more than four points until a deep two-pointer from Paul McMillan IV put NJIT ahead by five, 29-24 with just under seven minutes on the clock.

Bryant answered with five straight to tie the game and the teams were once again tied 33-33 with 2:30 to play in the half before a 10-0 Bulldogs run gave the hosts a 43-33 advantage late in the half. A late layup from Osawe, his sixth field goal of the half, made the score 43-31 as the teams headed to their respective locker rooms for halftime. 

Adam Hess opened up the second half scoring with a three-pointer to make it a seven-point game, but Bryant answered with six in a row to go ahead by a comfortable, 13-point lead.

The Bulldogs increased their lead to as many as 18 at one point in the half, but the Highlanders didn't go away without a fight.

NJIT was able to cut into the Bryant lead and got within seven once more on another Hess three-pointer, his fourth of the game with 2:30 on the clock.

Bryant answered the Hess triple with seven in a row to clinch the victory over the Highlanders in the first meeting between the two programs as America East Conference foes. 

Osawe finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. He was joined in double figures by Hess, who scored 14 points, and Souleymane Diakite, who scored 12 for his second double-digit scoring game in a row. 

Both Raheim Sullivan and Mekhi Gray dished out six assists each for NJIT, while Sullivan also contributed to the scoring with seven points. 

The Highlanders return to action on Sunday when they wrap up their two-game road swing at Vermont. Tip-off is slated for 1pm at Patrick Gymnasium in Burlington.