NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The NJIT men's basketball team continued its road swing Thursday night, traveling to the Hynes Center to take on Iona. Despite a strong start and a second-half push, the Highlanders fell to the Gaels, 72-49, in the America East-Metro Challenge.
The Highlanders opened the game with an immediate offensive spark, shooting 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Sophomore David Bolden knocked down two early triples to help NJIT jump out to an 11-5 lead. Redshirt freshman Brandon Stores Jr. added a pair of buckets as the Highlanders built an 11-5 advantage.
Iona settled in and responded with a dominant stretch, using a 14-2 run midway through the first half to take control. The Gaels closed the final 13:50 of the opening period on a 34-8 run, taking a 39-19 lead into halftime. NJIT struggled to find its shooting touch during that stretch, going 0-of-7 from the field as Iona built its advantage.
The Highlanders came out of the break with renewed energy, opening the second half on an 8-0 run to cut into the deficit. Freshman Victor Vanderstraeten provided the spark, scoring six points during the stretch as NJIT pulled within 12 at 39-27. Vanderstraeten continued to lead the offensive effort, finishing with a team-high 14 points.
With under eight minutes remaining, NJIT continued its second-half push with a 10-2 run to cut Iona's lead to 13. However, the Gaels responded with a 5-0 run to extend their advantage back to 18 with under three minutes to play. Iona closed out the contest with a 12-2 run to secure the 72-49 victory.
Vanderstraeten led the Highlanders with 14 points and seven rebounds. Bolden added eight points and a team-high five assists, while Stores Jr. contributed seven points. Sophomore Matheo Coffi, sophomore Mario Tatum Jr. and junior John Kelly each finished with five points.
Next Up
The Highlanders return to Newark and welcome Saint Peter's for the 2026-27 home opener on Sunday, the 8th inside the Joel & Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center for a 4:00 p.m. start time.
Stay Connected
Stay up to date on all things NJIT Men's Basketball throughout the season by following @NJITHoops on X/Twitter and Instagram.
