VIDEO:
NJIT Highlights
Post-Game Interviews w/ Head Coach Grant Billmeier and Freshman Sebastian Robinson
NEWARK, NJ - On a night that saw first-year NJIT Head Coach
Grant Billmeier earn his victory as a Highlander, it was several first-year players lead the squad to victory as NJIT defeated visiting Delaware State 81-72 in non-conference action on Monday evening at the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.
Sebastian Robinson, who was named the America East Rookie of the Week earlier Monday, scored 25 points, including 17 of the Highlanders' 35 second half points, and dished out a game-high five assists in the win. Classmate
Levi Lawal scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds, including several big ones down the stretch, and fellow freshman
Tariq Francis came off the bench to score 11 in the win.
"The best coaching decision I made in the second half was getting the ball in Sebastian's hands and just letting him go to work," explained Billmeier. "He's a freshman, but he plays with tremendous poise."
Veteran
Adam Hess also contributed in a big way, scoring 14 points and grabbing nine boards to narrowly miss his first-career double-double.
NJIT got on the scoreboard first when
Mekhi Gray found Lawal under the basket and the rookie completed an old-fashioned three-point play. The Highlanders jumped in front 12-4 and led by as many as 18 in the first half before heading into the locker room with a 46-30 halftime lead.
"We came out and played with unbelievable energy," added Billmeier. "We did a great job of moving the basketball and we just played really unselfish."
Delaware State controlled the first 10 minutes of the second half and cut the deficit to as little as four, but Robinson and the Highlanders punched right back. The Hornets made it 51-47 with 11:28 to play before the rookie scored the next six points to put NJIT back in front by double-digits.
The Highlanders led by at least six the rest of the way before ultimately earning the nine-point victory to give their Head Coach his first-career win.
Robinson was 7-for-8 from the foul line to pace the Highlanders, who shot 78.1% from the charity stripe while the Hornets shot just 58.5% (24-for-41) in a game that saw 53 total fouls and both NJIT big men, Lawal and
Daniel Schreier foul out.
Gray, a senior, and Lawal each had seven boards, while Gray also dished out four assists.
Martaz Robinson led the Hornets with 21 points in a losing effort on Monday.
The Highlanders will look to get their second win of the season on Saturday when they travel to Staten Island to take on Wagner. Tip-off is slated for 1pm.
