NEWARK, NJ - The NJIT men's basketball team was defeated 79-60 by visiting UMBC in America East Conference action on Thursday evening at the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.

UMBC scored the first four points of the game before the Highlanders answered with four-straight to tie things up early. The teams traded baskets for the next 10 minutes until the Retrievers scored four-straight again to open up a 20-15 lead with just over six minutes remaining in the half. NJIT was able to close within three, but UMBC finished the half on a 6-2 run to take a seven-point lead into halftime. 

The Retrievers opened the second half with a three-pointer to go ahead by a game-high 10 and extended their lead to 15, 54-39 with 8:56 to play.

Tariq Francis came down and hit a three-pointer on the ensuing possession and the Highlanders drew a flagrant foul for two free throws that Levi Lawal successfully drained. NJIT maintained possession and an Elijah Buchanan basket gave the Highlanders a seven-point possession and cut the margin to just eight.

UMBC punched back, however, and never let the Highlanders within eight en route to the 19-point victory. The win avenged an NJIT earlier this season that saw the Highlanders come back from a 22-point halftime deficit in Baltimore. 

Francis, the frontrunner to win the America East Rookie of the Year Award, finished with a game-high 22 points. Lawal, another NJIT freshman, narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and a game-best 10 rebounds. Francis was joined in double figures by Buchanan and Adam Hess, who each scored nine points.

Marcus Banks and Kydarius Smith each scored 18 points to lead UMBC.

Prior to the game, NJIT honored its lone senior, Mekhi Gray, and five graduate students, Buchanan, Hess, Justin Anderson, Kjell de Graaf, and Daniel Schreier in the program's annual Senior Day ceremony. 

The Highlanders will wrap up their regular season on Saturday when they travel to Bryant. Tip-off is slated for 4pm in Smithfield, RI.