NEWARK, NJ – The NJIT men's basketball team looks to get back in the win column on Saturday afternoon when it returns to the WEC to host Binghamton. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. with live coverage available on ESPN+.
Last Time Out
The NJIT men's basketball team dropped its road contest at first-place Bryant on Thursday night, 88-66, at the Chace Athletic Center.
Tim Moore Jr. led the Highlanders with a 22-point night and was joined in double figures by
Tariq Francis' 17 points and
Sebastian Robinson's 10 points.
The Highlanders started strong with consecutive three-pointers from
Tim Moore Jr. and
Jordan Rogers, followed by a midrange jumper from
Ari Fulton to hold an early 8-2 lead. Bryant responded well over the next several minutes to charge in front, but NJIT would hang in for the bulk of the first half as another Rogers three-pointer at 11:31 pulled the Highlanders back within four. Francis and Robinson followed later in the half with three-pointers of their own, but an 8-0 run gave Bryant a 17-point lead heading into halftime. NJIT chipped away early in the second half, using a 7-0 run after Bryant took its largest lead to that point. Francis stepped into an open three, and on the next possession dished to a driving Fulton for a dunk. Later, Robinson found space inside the arc to nail a jumper to cut it down to a 14-point game, 54-40, with 15:39 remaining. However, Bryant kept up its hot shooting, finishing at 54 percent for the game to pull away during the second half for the win.
What Sophomore Slump?
Tariq Francis put on a show during his first season as a Highlander in 2023-24, and has continued that level of play during his sophomore campaign. The Pittsburgh native leads the America East with his 18.5 points per game overall and ranks third in the league with 18.3 ppg during conference play.
This comes after posting one of the finest seasons of any freshman in the country. Francis was named America East Rookie of the Year and Met Basketball Writers Rookie of the Year after averaging a team-high 14.8 points overall. His scoring average soared to 18.7 points during America East games last year, ranking him fifth in the league and tops among all true freshmen in the nation in conference scoring.
The Rim Reaper
One of just two graduate students on the roster,
Tim Moore Jr. has found his stride midway through his lone season in University Heights. The transfer from Benedict College is averaging 12.6 points and shooting 51 percent overall on the season, but his play of late has certainly impressed. The Houston native is averaging 15.0 pts, 7.9 reb, 52.4% FG over his last 15 games dating back to a 20-point outing at Delaware State. In his 10 games prior, Moore averaged just 9.1 pts and 5.6 rebounds.
NJIT vs. Binghamton: All-Time Series
With just a little over two weeks remaining in the regular season, NJIT and Binghamton are set to square off for the first time this season. The Bearcats have won the last five meetings and are 8-3 all-time against the Highlanders. The last NJIT win in the series came in Vestal on Jan. 8, 2022, where 19 points from Miles Coleman guided the Highlanders to a 67-56 victory.
Highlander Highlights
- The Highlanders look to rebound from an 88-66 defeat at Bryant on Thursday night.
- Tim Moore Jr. led NJIT with 22 points, scoring that total for the second consecutive game.
- Tariq Francis and Moore each scored 22 points in last Saturday's 80-69 loss at New Hampshire, the second time this season they each surpassed the 20-point plateau in the same game.
- Five Highlanders finished in double figures in last Thursday's 78-74 loss at Maine, led by Sebastian Robinson's 16 points.
- NJIT trounced UMass Lowell, 83-62, on Jan. 30 at home for the Highlanders' largest America East victory since joining the league prior to the 2020-21 season.
- Tim Moore Jr. had a career night, finishing with 24 points, including his 1000th career point, as well as a career-high 15 rebounds.
- Robinson finished with 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds at Vermont on Jan. 23, the first NJIT player in its Division I era (since 2006) to post such a stat line.
- Grant Billmeier (2002-06) and Binghamton head coach LeVell Sanders (1994-98) each played played college basketball at Seton Hall.
- Of Seton Hall's five active Division 1 head coaches, Billmeier has now coached against three of them this season (Shaheen Holloway, Seton Hall; Donald Copeland, Wagner; Levell Sanders, Binghamton).
- Francis has hit at least one three-pointer in 40 consecutive games. His last game without a make from behind the arc was Dec. 9, 2023 at Wake Forest.
- Ari Fulton was named America East Rookie of the Week on Jan. 20 after averaging a double-double with 10.5 points and 11.0 rebounds during NJIT's 1-1 week.
- Sebastian Robinson set NJIT's D-1 era program record for assists in a single game, dishing out 15 dimes in the win over Medgar Evers.
- Tariq Francis leads the America East in scoring average this season at 18.5 ppg.
- NJIT is second in America East in three-point defense (.305) and third in free throw percentage (.738) and rebounding (35.9).NJIT boasts a young roster, with 12 of its 14 members (86%) being either freshmen or sophomores, ranking the Highlanders fourth in the nation in that category.
- Only three players on NJIT's active roster entered this season with previous Division I experience (Francis, Lawal, Robinson).
Next Up
The Highlanders have a week off before returning to action next Saturday on the road at UMBC.
Stay up to date on all things NJIT Men's Basketball throughout the season by following @NJITHoops on X/Twitter and Instagram.
