Newark, N.J. – Tariq Francis and
Sebastian Robinson each finished with 20 points but the NJIT men's basketball team was unable to hold onto its second half lead in a 58-57 defeat to Penn in Monday night's season opener.
How it Happened
The Highlanders got off to a strong start, as three-pointers from
Levi Lawal, Francis and
Jordan Rogers gave NJIT a commanding lead halfway through the first half, 20-6. Francis continued his torrid first half a few minutes later, answering a Penn three-pointer with one of his own to push the Highlanders' lead back to 14. After a couple Quaker free throws cut the deficit back down to 12, 25-13, a Robinson layup followed by Francis' third three of the first half ballooned NJIT's lead to its largest of the game at 17.
After going into the locker room up 12, NJIT started off the second half strong. Francis picked up where he left off, drilling his fourth triple of the night at the 17:24 mark to give the Highlanders a 39-28 edge. Later in the half, the Highlanders used a quick six-point burst to grow the lead back to 17, highlighted by a steal and fastbreak dunk from
Jordan Rogers. However, Penn would clamp down defensively and overcome the deficit, as Lawal missed what would have been a game-winning jumper as time expired in the Quakers' one-point win.
News & Notes
- Francis and Robinson are the first Highlander teammates to score at least 20 points in the same game since Francis and Elijah Buchanan did so in the win over UMass Lowell on Feb. 10, 2024.
- Robinson's nine rebounds are a new career high. His 20-point effort is also his second such game of his career, joining his 25-point effort last season against Delaware State.
- Freshman Jordan Rogers got the start in his first collegiate game, scoring nine points on 4-of-5 shooting and snagging five rebounds in 24 minutes.
Up Next
The Highlanders face their first road test of the season on Friday as they travel to Villanova to face the Wildcats. Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. on FS2.
