WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The NJIT men's basketball team hung tough with Wake Forest in non-conference action on Saturday evening, before ultimately falling 83-59 at the LJVM Colesium.

Three days after they defeated Fordham in a guarantee game, the Highlanders had a chance to do it again against an ACC foe as they trailed by just six, 38-32, at the half and seven, 60-53, with 7:38 left in the game. 

Wake Forest turned their seven-point lead into a 14-point advantage with seven-straight points and continued their late run, ultimately taking the game by the 24-point margin.

Adam Hess led the Highlanders with 15 points and was joined in double-figures by Elijah Buchanan, who scored 11. Kjell de Graaf put together his second-straight game, scoring nine points and grabbing a team-high six rebounds. 

Hess has now scored at least 12 points in seven of nine games for the Highlanders this season.

Parker Friedrichsen led all scorers with 19 points for the Demon Deacons, draining five-of-six three point attempts to lead five players in double figures for the hosts. 

Wake Forest shot 56.1% from the field and 42.9% from deep in the win, while the Highlanders shot 39.0% overall and 21.4% from long range.

NJIT will take the week off and look to bounce back next Saturday when it travels to Buffalo to take on Niagara. Tip-off is slated for 1pm.