GAME NOTES AT VERMONT 3.10

NEWARK, NJ – For the first time since joining the America East, NJIT will play in the conference semi-final game on Tuesday, the 10^th at 7:00 p.m. as the No. 3 seed Highlanders travel to No. 2 seed Vermont.

Season For the Books

• Highest-ever #AEPlayoffs seed
• Most AE wins since joining conference in 2020
• Most overall wins since 2018-19 campaign

America East Quarterfinal vs. Maine Recap

• The Highlanders defeated Maine, 60-58, on a last-second jumper by Ari Fulton to send the Highlanders to the America East Semifinals Saturday night.
• With the win, the Highlanders advanced to the America East Semifinals for the first time in program history.
• Leading the way for the Highlanders was Sebastian Robinson who finished the game with 21 points.

NJIT vs. Vermont: All-Time Series

• This is the 19^th all-time meeting between the Highlanders and the Catamounts.
• The Catamounts lead the all-time series 15-3.
• Last matchup was this season where the Catamounts took down the Highlanders, 70-64, in Newark on 2/21/26.

America East Honors

• Three Highlanders received conference honors highlighted by David Bolden being named America East Rookie of the Year and named to the All-Rookie Team.
• Sebastian Robinson and Ari Fulton were named to the All-America East Second Team.
• 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
The winner will advance to the conference championship game on Saturday, the 14^th at 11:00 a.m. on ESPN2. Stay up to date on all things NJIT Men's Basketball throughout the season by following @NJITHoops on X/Twitter and Instagram.