GAME NOTES VS UMBC 3.3

NEWARK, NJ – NJIT returns home to the Bloom Wellness & Events Center as the Highlanders host UMBC for senior night on Tuesday, March 3^rd for a 6:00 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.

Senior Day

• Prior to the game, NJIT wil hold its Senior Day Ceremony to recognize Melvyn Ebonkoli.
• Ebonkoli has played a crucial role in the Highlanders' success throughout America East play, anchoring down the five and being a stable on both ends of the floor for the team.
• The graduate student from Trappes, France scored a career-high 20 points on a perfect 10-10 shooting from the field in a big win over UMass Lowell on 2/5/26.

Bryant Recap

• The Highlanders dropped a 69-52 decision to Bryant on Saturday afternoon, moving the Highlanders to 10-5 in America East play.
• Leading the way for the Highlanders was Sebastian Robinson with 15 points. Ari Fulton was the only other Highlander in double-digits with ten points.

NJIT vs. UMBC: All-Time Series

• This is the 14^th all-time meeting between the Highlanders and the Retrievers.
• The Retrievers lead the all-time series 8-5.
• Last matchup was this season where the Retrievers took down the Highlanders, 87-74, in Baltimore on 1/22/26.

America East Honors

• Sophomore Ari Fulton was named America East Player of the Week (2/9) averaging 19.5 PPG and 9.5 RPG and shot 12-18 FG (67%). Fulton was also named America East Co-Player of the Week (11/17) earlier in the season.
• 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 (2/16) for the fourth time this season averaging 12.0 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 4.0 APG, and 4.5 SPG. Bolden received this honor previously on 11/10, 11/17 and 2/2.

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.
• The win over Maine (2/14) marks the Highlanders' 10th conference win of the season, which is the highest win total in program history, passing their win total of 9 as a member of the Great West in 2010-11.
• The six-game winning streak tied the Highlanders longest winning streak in their D-I era, accomplished first in 2011 and matched in 2015.
• The Highlanders clinched a top-4 seed and will host an America East quarterfinal game for the first time since joining the conference in 2020.

Next Up
For the first time since joining the America East, NJIT will host a conference quarter-final game on Saturday, the 7^th at 4:00 p.m. with the opponent to be determined. Stay up to date on all things NJIT Men's Basketball throughout the season by following @NJITHoops on X/Twitter and Instagram.