NEWARK, NJ– The NJIT men's basketball team travels to Wake Forest for the second game of its season-long three-game road swing on Saturday night.

The game will be televised on the ACC Network and streamed on ESPN+ as Doug Sherman (play-by-play) and Malcolm Huckaby (analyst) have the call.

All-Time Series
Saturday's game at Wake Forest is the first all-time between the Highlanders and Demon Deacons. Wake is one of five first-time opponents on the NJIT roster. The Highlanders matchups against Miami (FL) and George Mason were the first in those series, as will be future games against Medger Evers and Morgan State. NJIT and Wake played a four-game baseball series in 2022.

Last Time Out: NJIT 80, Fordham 77 | Wed. 12/6 in The Bronx, NY
The NJIT men's basketball team trailed by as many as 12 on Wednesday night, but battled back late, getting a put-back from veteran Kjell de Graaf with 2.0 seconds to play for an 80-77 victory over a Fordham squad that won 25 games last season.

After de Graaf's heroic putback, Mekhi Gray stole a full court heave and drained a pair of foul shots with 0.3 on the clock to clinch the win. Gray finished the game with a career-high 21 points on his 22nd birthday to help lead the Highlanders to the first road victory of the Grant Bilmeier era.

The Highlanders led 5-2 early, but Fordham answered with seven-straight points to go in front and the Rams led for the next 37 minutes until NJIT freshman Sebastian Robinson, the three-time reigning America East Rookie of the Week, hit a baseline jumper with 1:18 on the clock to put the Highlanders ahead 74-73. Fordham immediately answered with a basket to go ahead 75-74, but Bronx native Elijah Buchanan was able to put NJIT back in front, getting to the basket and converting a contested layup with 37 seconds on the clock. The Rams called time out and made a pair of foul shots to go back in front one last time before de Graaf won the game for NJIT. Buchanan once again got to the basket, but his shot was short of the rim and de Graaf was able to convert the putback to give the Highlanders the victory.

Gray hit four-three pointers to tie his career high, while Adam Hess also drained four triples on six attempts. Buchanan knocked down a pair of three-balls for the Highlanders, who shot 12-of-25 (48.0%) as a team from behind the three-point line. Gray (7-for-8) and de Graaf (8-for-10) combined to shoot 15-of-18 from the foul line, while Fordham shot just 17-for-31 (54.8%) from the charity stripe as a team.

Four Highlanders finished in double figures for the third time this season with Gray's game-high 21 leading the way. Buchanan tallied 18, Hess scored 14, and de Graaf finished with a season-high 12 in his second game back from injury. Robinson scored seven points and dished out a team-high five assists, while Buchanan finished with four helpers.

BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK:
NJIT freshman Sebastian Robinson was named the America East Rookie of the Week for three staight weeks, earning the award in the second, third, and fourth 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. Last week, Robinson averaged 9.0ppg, 4.0 rpg, and 2.5 apg in a pair of games at George Mason and vs. FDU.

Highlander Highlights
* Saturday's game is the ninth 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 are in the midst of three-straight on the road, which is a season-high. Saturday's game at Wake Forest is one of two plane trips for NJIT (Miami, the other).
* Kjell de Graaf is the most tenured Highlander as he is now in his sixth season with the program and his next GP will be his 100th. Mekhi Gray is in his fourth season as a Highlander.
* Sebastian Robinson was named America East Rookie of the Week three times this season. The Montclair, NJ, native and Roselle Catholic graduate was first honored after scoring 17 vs. American and again rewarded after averaging 18.0ppg and 4.5 apg in a 1-1 week for the Highlanders in late Nov. He received the honor again Mon. after averaging 9.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, and 2.5 apg 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 was one 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, who led the America East in 3FG% last season, is shooting 44.7% from deep.
* 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 continue their road trip next weekend when they travel to Buffalo for a 1pm Saturday game at Niagara.

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.