NEWARK, NJ - Adam Hess scored a game-high 21 points and Levi Lawal registered his first-career double-double, but it wasn't enough as visiting New Hampshire defeated the NJIT men's basketball team 70-62 in America East Conference action on Thursday evening at the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center. 

UNH opened up the scoring with a three-pointer before the Highlanders answered with 10-straight points to go ahead 10-3, which was its largest lead of the evening.

The Wildcats rallied to tie things up at 10-10 and went back in front 13-12 on another three-pointer, this time by Christian Moore. 

Neither squad led by more than three for the duration of the first half as the score was tied at 27 apiece late before three-pointers from each team in the final 17 seconds made it 30-30 at halftime.. 

Mekhi Gray opened the second half scoring with a layup to put NJIT back in front and the Highlanders led by three, 37-34 after an Adam Hess three-ball with 17:25 on the clock, but UNH answered with five-straight to go back in front by two.

A jumper from Hess tied the score at 39-39 before a 5-1 UNH run made it 44-40 in favor of the visitors with just under 12 minutes to play.

UNH led for the rest of the game, ultimately winning by the eight-point margin. 

Hess' 21 points came on 6-of-13 shooting from the field and 5-of-11 from deep. The remainder of the Highlanders shot jut 2-of-17 from three-point range in Thursday's loss.

Lawal finished with 11 points and a career-high 12 rebounds to post the first double-double of his career. Gray also stuffed the stat sheet, finishing with eight points, six boards, five assists and a pair of blocks. Elijah Buchnan also had five assists to go along with seven points and three rebounds. 

Clarence Daniels, a 2022-23 First Team All-America East performer, scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Wildcats, while Ahmad Robinson led the squad with 18 points to go along with eight boards. Jaxson Baker narrowly missed a double-double, finishing the contest with 11 points and nine boards.

The Highlanders will have a quick turnaround as they look to get back in the win column on Saturday vs. Maine. The game is set to tip-off at 2pm back in the WEC .