WASHINGTON, DC - The NJIT men's basketball team suffered a 87-73 setback to host American on Thursday evening at Bender Arena.

Mekhi Gray opened up the scoring with a driving layup before the Eagles immediately answered with a three-pointer to take a 3-2 lead. The teams traded the lead nine times in the first half before American took a 45-39 lead into halftime. 

The hosts extended their lead to 11 early in the second half, but a 10-2 NJIT run made the score 54-51 with just over 15 minutes left. The three-point margin was as close as the Highlanders were able to get as American was able to extend its lead to as many as 16 before ultimately winning by the 14-point margin.

Gray led four Highlanders in double figures with 18 points, one off his career-high set at Stony Brook two seasons ago. A trio of freshmen - Sebastain Robinson (17 points), Tariq Francis (13 points) and Levi Lawal (10 points) - all scored at least 10 points for the first time in their young careers. 

Robinson led the squad with six assists, also a career-best, while Lawal's 10 points came on a perfect 5-for-5 from the field. Francis led the team with three steals. Gray and Lawal each had six rebounds to lead the team.

NJIT started three freshmen - Robinson, Lawal, and Jake Goldberg - for the first time since the 2013-14 season. The Highlanders were undermanned on Thursday as Elijah Buchanan and Kjell de Graaf, two graduate student starters, didn't suit up. 

Matt Rogers led American to its second-straight home win, finishing with a double-double as he scored a game-high 28 points and pulled down a game-high 11 boards.

The Highlanders return to action on Monday when they host Delaware State at the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center. Tip-off is slated for 7pm.