GAME NOTES VS NEW HAMPSHIRE 1.8

NEWARK, NJ – NJIT returns to Newark for their conference home opener as the Highlanders welcome New Hampshire on Thursday, January 8^th for a 7:00 p.m. start time. The game will be live streamed on ESPN+ with Matt Provence (Play by Play) and Barry "Slice" Rohrssen (Color) on the call.

Binghamton Recap

• The Highlanders took down Binghamton on the road, 73-65, to win the America East Opener on Saturday afternoon.
• Junior Sebastian Robinson finished the game with 21 points on 7-12 shooting from the field. This marks his 8^th game scoring in double-digits and in five of his last six games he has scored at least ten points.
• Graduate student Melvyn Ebonkoli impressed in his first America East action, as well as his first start for the Highlanders, with 16 points and a team-high eight rebounds on 6-9 shooting from the field.
• Freshman David Bolden was the third and final Highlander to score in double-figures with 12 points and led the team with three assists.
• The last time the Highlanders won an America East opener was back during the 2021-22 season taking down Maine at home, 69-66.
• With the win, the Highlanders matched their win total from last season (6) with playing a tougher non-conference schedule this season.

NJIT vs. New Hampshire: All-Time Series

• This is the 12th all-time meeting between the Highlanders and the Wildcats.
• The Wildcats hold the all-time series 6-5.
• Last matchup was last season where the Wildcats took down the Highlanders, 80-69, in Durham on 2/8/25.

America East Honors

• Fulton was named America East Co-Player of the Week (11/17) averaging 17.0 PPG and 12.0 RPG.
• Bolden was named America East Rookie of the Week two weeks in a row (11/10, 11/17) averaging 15 PPG and 6 APG.

Quick Notes:

• Grant Billmeier enters his third season at the helm.
• Ty Goode joins the coaching staff as an assistant coach after spending the previous three seasons on the staff at Fordham University as Recruiting/Video Coordinator (2024-25) and Assistant Recruiting Coordinator (2022-24).
• The Highlanders return nine players from last season, one of the highest marks in the conference.
• The Highlanders boasts a younger roster with 11 of its 15 members being either freshman or sophomores. The team also has three juniors and a graduate student.
• Newcomers to Newark include Melvyn Ebonkoli, Jeremy Clayville, Rocco Awad, Zack Scherler, AJ Altobelli and David Bolden.
• Bolden's 18 points at Fordham (11/4) is the most points scored by a freshman in their debut since Damon Lynn in 2013. Damon had 21 points at Tulane on Nov. 8, 2013.
• The last time the Highlanders started off a season 3-1 was back during the 2015-16 season.
• The Highlanders concluded their non-conference slate with five wins, which is their most non-conference wins since the 2021-22 season (5).

Next Up
NJIT stays home as the Highlanders welcome Maine on Saturday, January 10^th for a 2:00 p.m. start time. Stay up to date on all things NJIT Men's Basketball throughout the season by following @NJITHoops on X/Twitter and Instagram.