Miles Coleman's Late Three-Pointer Pushes NJIT Past Stony Brook

Miles Coleman's three-pointer with 2.0 seconds remaining broke a 62-62 tie and lifted the NJIT men's basketball team to a 65-62 victory over preseason America East favorite Stony Brook on Saturday evening at the Wellness and Events Center.

"That felt great, but then I looked at the clock and realized there was still time left," explained Coleman, who finished with a team-high tying 16 points. 

Mekhi Gray stole the ensuing inbounds pass and the Highlanders held on to snap a seven-game losing streak and improve to 9-12 on the season and 4-7 in America East play. Stony Brook dropped to 13-9 overall and 5-4 in the America East. 

Neither team led by more than six in the game, which featured 10 lead changes and eight ties and saw the Highlanders in front 38-37 at halftime.

Both teams went back and forth for the first 10 minutes of the second half, until a pair of three-pointers from Matt Faw put NJIT ahead by six with 9:21 to play.

Stony Brook clawed back, tying the contest at 62 on a driving layup from Juan Felix Rodriguez with 26 seconds to play.

NJIT called a time out with eight seconds to go and sixth-year Head Coach Brian Kennedy drew up a play for Coleman, his leading scorer. Antwuan Butler found Coleman, who connected on the game-winning three-pointer right in front of the Highlanders' bench,

While Coleman was the hero down the stretch, freshman Keeshawn Mason had a huge first half for NJIT scoring 14 of his career-high 16 points in the first 20 minutes. Mason also pulled down six rebounds, another career-high.

"I've been telling Keeshawn all season that it's going to come together for him," added Coleman. "It sure came together today for him."

Butler (11 points) and Faw (10 points) joined Coleman and Mason in double figures for the Highlanders. Faw also pulled down a game-high eight rebounds for the Highlanders, who out-rebounded Stony Brook 40-32 in the victory.

The Highlanders will look to make it two in a row on Wednesday when they travel north to take on New Hampshire in another America East contest. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. in Durham, N.H.

Video:
NJIT Highlights
Post-game Interview w/ Head Coach Brian Kennedy and Senior Miles Coleman