BURLINGTON, VT - The NJIT men's basketball team was defeated 85-69 by host Vermont in America East Conference action on Sunday at Patrick Gymnasium.

Vermont, the preseason pick to win the conference, improved to 4-2 in league play, while NJIT's conference record now stands at 2-4.

Both teams traded three-pointers early with Mekhi Gray answering a game-opening triple from Vermont with one of his own to tie the score 3-3.

It looked like the hosts would run away with it as UVM answered Gray's three with a 13-4 run to go ahead 19-7.

Vermont led 25-16 before a 10-0 run from the Highlanders put NJIT in front 26-25 with 5:50 to play in the first half. The run was highlighted by back-to-back three-pointers from Raheim Sullivan and a fast break dunk from Gray.

NJIT's lead was short-lived, however, as Vermont scored 19 seconds later to take the lead and remained in front for the duration of the contest. 

The Catamounts ended the first half on a 15-4 run to take a 40-30 lead into the locker room at halftime.

NJIT opened the second half with a free throw from Kevin Osawe followed by a layup from Souleymane Diakite to cut the margin to seven, but that was as close as it would get as Vermont pulled away from there.

The Catamounts opened their lead up to as many as 26 late in the second before a run from the Highlanders made the final margin 16.

Sullivan matched his collegiate career-high with 23 points on 9-for-12 shooting, including 3-for-5 from three-point range. Gray joined Sullivan in double figures with 12 points, while Diakite (eight points) and Osawe (seven points) both chipped in offensively. Osawe finished with a game-high eight rebounds.

As a team, the Highlanders were 8-for-14 (57.1%) from long range, while Vermont needed 30 three-point attempts to make its 11 triples.

NJIT will return to the court on Wednesday when it welcomes UMBC to Newark. Tip-off is scheduled for 7pm in the Wellness and Events Center.