NEWARK, NJ - The NJIT men's basketball team dropped its America East Conference opener to visiting UAlbany on Saturday, falling 79-73 at the Joel and Diane Wellness and Events Center. 

Tariq Francis, who has already been named America East Rookie of the Week twice this season, established a new career-high with 22 points, while classmate Levi Lawal also set a new career-best with 16 points of his own.

The 38 points from Francis and Lawal weren't enough, however, as UAlbany took advantage of a 41-36 margin on the glass to overcome a one-point halftime deficit. 

NJIT led by as many as six several times in the first half, but a late run from the Great Danes put the visitors back in front late in the frame, before a late layup from Francis gave the Highlanders a 35-34 halftime advantage. 

UAlbany went back in front with an early basket in the second half which was immediately answered by a Mekhi Gray three-pointer to give the Highlanders a 38-36 lead. Adam Hess broke a 38-38 tie with a pull-up jump shot to give NJIT another lead, but that was the Highlanders final lead of the afternoon as Sebastian Thomas hit a three-pointer to put UAlbany in front 41-40 to spark a 7-0 run.

The Great Danes led by as many as 10 in the second half, but the Highlanders didn't go down without a fight, cutting the deficit to one possession, 76-73, on Francis' final basket of the game with 18 seconds left. UAlbany hit three free throws down the stretch to make the final margin six points. 

NJIT out-shot UAlbany 44.4%-41.3%, but the Great Danes were able to get more out of the three-ball as they shot 33.3% from deep, while the Highlanders struggled from long range, making just 21.1% of their three-pointers.

In addition to his 22 points, Francis also dished out a game-high six assists and grabbed three rebounds. Lawal grabbed eight boards for the Highlanders and also swatted away a career-high four shots. Gray joined Francis and Lawal in double figures with 14 points for his fourth-straight double-digit scoring output.

Jonathan Beagle, the 2022-23 America East Rookie of the Year, scored 19 points and grabbed 16 boards for his sixth double-double of the season. Sebastian Thomas was the Great Danes' leading scorer on Saturday as the junior transfer scored 22 points.

NJIT will hit the road for a pair of America East contests this week, first traveling to UMass Lowell for a 6:30pm contest on Thursday before taking on Vermont on Saturday at 2pm in Burlington.