GAME NOTES VS UMASS LOWELL 2.5

NEWARK, NJ – NJIT returns home to the Bloom Wellness and Events Center as the Highlanders welcome UMass Lowell on Thursday, February 5^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.

Vermont Recap

• The Highlanders win thrilling road game at Vermont, 79-77, and improve to 6-2 in America East action on Saturday night.
• Leading the way for the Highlanders was junior Sebastian Robinson with 22 points on 8-14 shooting from the field. This marks Robinson's 5^th game with 20+ in conference play and 6^th game this season.
• Sophomore Ari Fulton recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
• Freshman David Bolden followed with 16 points and sophomore Jordan Rogers scored 15 with two big three-pointers down the stretch.
• With the win, the Highlanders reached their highest conference win total since joining the America East, matching their conference high of six wins set in the 2021-22 season.

NJIT vs. UMass Lowell: All-Time Series

• This is the 21^st all-time meeting between the Highlanders and the River Hawks.
• The all-time series is tied 10-10.
• Last matchup was this season where the Highlanders took down the River Hawks, 73-64, in Lowell on 1/15/26.

America East Honors

• Junior Sebastian Robinson was named America East Player of the Week (2/2) averaging 19.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.0 APG and shot 15-29 FG (51.7%)
• Freshman David Bolden was named America East Rookie of the Week for the third time this season averaging 15.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 5.5 APG, 3.0 SPG and shot 6-14 FG (42.9%) and 4-9 3PT FG (44.4%. Bolden was received the same honor two weeks in a row earlier in the season (11/10, 11/17).
• Sophomore Ari Fulton was named America East Co-Player of the Week (11/17) averaging 17.0 PPG and 12.0 RPG.

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).
• The Highlanders took down Binghamton, 73-65, to win their America East opener for the first time since the 2021-22 season.

Next Up
NJIT concludes their homestretch on Saturday, February 7^th when the Highlanders welcome Binghamton for a 4:00 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.