GAME NOTES VS MAINE 1.10

NEWARK, NJ – NJIT stays home as the Highlanders welcome Maine on Saturday, January 10^th for a 2:00 p.m. start time. The game will be live streamed on ESPN+ with Matt Provence (Play by Play) and Jesse Agel (Color) on the call.

New Hampshire Recap

• The Highlanders improve to 2-0 in America East play after taking down New Hampshire, 80-76, in dramatic fashion on Thursday night.
• The Highlanders found themselves trailing most of the game however, the entire flow of the game switched when freshman David Bolden knocked down two threes to help the Highlanders on a 10-0 run to get the game within one before sophomore Ari Fulton was fouled and knocked down both free throws to give the Highlanders their first lead since early in the game.
• Down the final stretch, and in dramatic fashion, freshman Rocco Awad knocked down the dagger from behind the arc to seal the win for the Highlanders as they improved to 2-0 in America East play.
• Leading the way for the Highlanders Bolden who finished with 21 points on 5-9 shooting from three. Fulton followed with 18 points and Awad scored 10 points all off the bench.

NJIT vs. Maine: All-Time Series

• This is the 17th all-time meeting between the Highlanders and the Black Bears.
• The all-time series is tied 8-8.
• Last matchup was last season where the Black Bears took down the Highlanders, 78-74, in Orono on 2/6/25.

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 hits the road as America East play continues as the Highlanders take on UMass Lowell on Thursday, January 15^th for a 6:00 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.