NEWARK, NJ– The NJIT men's basketball team returns home for its third game inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center (WEC) this season when it hosts FDU at 3:30pm on Saturday.

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

All-Time Series
Saturday's game vs. FDU is the eighth all-time between the Highlanders and Knights. FDU won its first game in the series last year, defeating the Highlanders 73-71 on a questionable tip-in at the buzzer that appeared to be offensive goaltending. NJIT won the first six matchups againt FDU, with three of those being one-possesion games. 

Last Time Out: George Mason 86, NJIT 68 | Wed. 11/29 in Newark, NJ
Graduate student Elijah Buchanan scored 28 points, the most of his six-year NCAA Division I career, but it wasn't enough as the NJIT men's basketball team fell 96-68 to host George Mason on Wednesday evening at EagleBank Arena.

Twenty of Buchanan's 28 came before halftime as the Highlanders led for most of the first half and trailed by just one, 32-31, as the teams went to their respective locker rooms at half time. 

George Mason scored the first four points of the second half to go ahead by five, but an Adam Hess three-pointer got NJIT back within two. The two-point margin was as close as the Highlanders were able to get as the Patriots answered Hess' triple with a 9-3 run and led by as many as 17 midway through the half. NJIT didn't go away without a fight, however, using a pair of three-pointers from Tariq Francis as part of an 11-1 run to cut the deficit to just eight with 3:14 remaining. George Mason scored the final 10 points of the game to earn the 18-point home victory.

The Patriots shot 63.3% from the field and 63.6% from deep in the second half to take control of the game. 

Buchanan's previous career-high was 26 against Iona as a member of the 2020-21 Manhattan team. He finished Wednesday's game 9-of-15 from the field and 6-of-10 from three-point range. Hess shot 3-of-5 from three-point range and finished with 15 points, while Francis also finished in double-figures with 12 and dished out a team-high four assists. 

Ronald Polite III led three Patriots in double figures with 18 points.

The Highlanders return home on Saturday when they host FDU at the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center in Newark. Tip-off is slated for 3:30pm and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.

BACK TO BACK
NJIT freshman Sebastian Robinson was named the America East Rookie of the Week in back-to-back weeks, earning the award in both the second and third weeks of the season. Robinson was first honored for his 17-point, 6-assist performance at American and he followed it up with earning the award again after averaging 18ppg and 3.5apg in a 1-1 week against Delaware St. and Wagner. Robinson scored 25 points against Delaware State to lead NJIT to its first win of the season. 

Highlander Highlights
*    Saturday's  game is the seventh 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 WEC.
*    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 Weekin each of the past two weeks. The Montclair, NJ, native and Roselle Catholic graduate was first honored after scoring 17 vs. American and once again rewarded after averaging 18.0ppg and 4.5 apg in a 1-1 week for the Highlanders last week.
*    NJIT started three freshmen - Robinson, Jake Goldberg and Levi Lawal - three times this season. It marked the first time three freshmen started for the Highlanders since 2013-14.
*    Grant Billmeier and Jack Castleberry were two of 25 NCAA Division I Head Coaches to make their debuts this season. The Highlanders' first win vs. DSU was actually Billmerier's second -career Head Coaching victory as he was credited for a win at Seton Hall in 2019-20.
*    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. 
*    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 twice this week, starting with a 7pm contest at Fordham on Wednesday and wrapping up with an 8pm matchup at Wake Forest next Saturday.

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.