NEWARK, NJ– The NJIT men's basketball team returns home for its second game inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center (WEC) this season.

The game will be streamed on ESPN+ as Matt Provence (play-by-play) and Dave Popkin (analyst) have the call.

All-Time Series
Monday's matchup is the third all-time between the Highlanders and Hornets. NJIT won both of the previous meetings, which came during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. The Highlanders won 65-59 in OT on Jan. 27, 2014 in Dover, DE, and 69-51 on February 3, 2015 in Newark. 

LAST TIME OUT - American 87, NJIT 73 (Washington DC; November 16, 2023)
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. 

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.

Highlander Highlights
*    Monday's  game is the fourth of the 2023-24 season -- which marks NJIT's 18th participating in Division I, fourth as a member of the America East and seventh in the Wellness & Events Center.
*    NJIT's roster makeup is rather unique with nine freshmen, one junior, one senior, and five post-graduate players, including four in their sixth collegiate season
*    The Highlanders return just five members from their 2022-23 squad, led by Mekhi Gray and Adam Hess, who each started most of last season. 
*    Kjell de Graaf is the most tenured Highlander as he is now in his sixth season with the program. Mekhi Gray is in his fourth season as a Highlander.
*    Sebastian Robinson had a breakout game at American, scoring 17 points and dishing out six assists. Fellow freshmen Tariq Francis (13 points, three steals) and Levi Lawal (10 points, 5-of-5 FG, six boards) also impressed.
*    Robinson and Francis project to carry the load at Point Guard as rookies this season. Another freshmen, Jake Goldberg should see plenty of time off the bench at the wing spot.
*    Grant Billmeier was one of 25 NCAA Division I Head Coaches to make their debut last week. 
*    Adam Hess is as well-traveled as any player in the country. The sixth-year player has played at five different schools in all four time zones across the continental United States. Hess is the only Highlander to score 10+ points in each game this season. 
*    Two Highlanders - Elijah Buchanan and Daniel Schreier - followed top assistant coach RaShawn Stores to Newark from Manhattan College where Stores made a pair of NCAA Tournaments as a player and served as Interim Head Coach last season.

Next Up
The Highlanders will hit the road on Saturay for a 1pm contest at Wagner.

Stay Connected
Stay up to date during the NJIT Men's Basketball season by following @NJITHoops on Twitter and Instagram and liking the NJIT Men's Basketball Basketball page on Facebook.