CORAL GABLES, FL - The NJIT men's basketball team dropped its 2023-24 season opener on Monday, falling 101-60 to host Miami (FL) at the Watsco Center.
The Hurricanes, fresh off a Final Four run last season, were ranked 13th in the preseason AP poll and proved why on Monday as they spoiled NJIT Head Coach
Grant Billmeier's coaching debut.
"That's a great team," explained Billmeier. "Not exactly a team you want to play in your season opener. They looked even better than their ranking tonight.
Miami raced out to a 22-9 lead, but the Highlanders scored nine straight of their own to cut the deficit to four at the midway point of the first half.
The hosts went on another run, however, and broke the game open eventually leading by 20, 52-32, at halftime.
Miami came out fast in the second half and extended its lead. The Hurricanes scored 21 in a row at one point and led by a game-high 44 points late in the half before ultimately winning by the 41-point margin.
The Hurricanes scored 52 points in the paint and shot 12-of-28 (42.9%) from deep in the win, while the Highlanders scored 26 points in the paint and shot just 9-of-30 from deep.
Adam Hess was NJIT's top scorer, finishing with 14 points, while
Elijah Buchanan finished with eight points and six rebounds in 21 minutes of action.
Tariq Francis had an impressive debut off the bench for the Highlanders as the rookie stuffed the stat sheet with nine points, seven boards, five assists and three steals. Francis' classmates
Jake Goldberg,
Jeffrey Akintolu, Levi Lewal, and
Sebastian Robinson all made their way into the scoring column in their collegiate debuts.
Wooga Poplar scored 21 points to lead Miami, while Norchad Omeir (20 points, 10 rebounds) and Matt Cleveland (16 points, 10 rebounds) finished with double-doubles for the Hurricanes.
"We have a big game on Saturday so we can't dwell on this one," concluded Billmeier. "We'll be ready for Saint Peter's on Saturday."
The Highlanders return to action on Saturday when they host Saint Peter's in their home opener. Tip-off is slated for 4pm at the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center in Newark.
