NEWARK, NJ– The NJIT men's basketball team will look to make it two wins in a row on Saturday when it travels to take on Wagner. Tip-off is slated for 1pm at the Spiro Sports Center on Staten Island and the game will be streamed on NEC Front Row. 

All-Time Series
Saturday's matchup is the eighth all-time between the Highlanders and Seahawks. NJIT leads the series 4-3 after Wagner won last season's matchup 62-57 in Newark. This will mark the third time the teams met on Staten Island, with the other five games being played in Newark. NJIT's last win in the series was an 88-69 victory on November 16, 2019 in Newark.. 

Last Time Out: NJIT 81. Delaware St. 72 | Mon. 11/20 in 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 win at NJIT.

Highlander Highlights
*    Saturday's  game is the fifth 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 was named America East Rookie of the Week after scoring 17 points and dishing out six assists last Thursday at American. He followed it up with a 25-point, five-assist effort in Monday's win vs. Delaware St. 
*    NJIT started three freshmen - Robinson, Jake Goldberg and Levi Lawal - the last two games. It marked the first time three freshmen started for the Highlanders since the 2013-14 season.
*    Grant Billmeier was one of 25 NCAA Division I Head Coaches to make their debut this season. The Highlanders' first win vs. DSU was actually his second -career Head Coaching victory as he was credited for a win at Seton Hall in 2019-20 when Kevin Willaird was suspended.  
*    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. 
*    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 get back on the road for a Wednesday matchup at George Mason. Tip-off is slated for 7pm in Fairfax, VA.

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.