Kjell de Graaf's Last Second Putback Lifts NJIT to Come From Behind Win at Fordham

The NJIT men's basketball team trailed by as many as 12 on Wednesday night, but battled back late, getting a put-back from veteran Kjell de Graaf with 2.0 seconds to play for an 80-77 victory over a Fordham squad that won 25 games last season.

After de Graaf's heroic putback, Mekhi Gray stole a full court heave and drained a pair of foul shots with 0.3 on the clock to clinch the win. Gray finished the game with a career-high 21 points on his 22nd birthday to help lead the Highlanders to the first road victory of the Grant Bilmeier era.

VIDEO: Quick Highlights and Postgame Interview w/ Elijah Buchanan

The Highlanders led 5-2 early, but Fordham answered with seven-straight points to go in front and the Rams led for the next 37 minutes until NJIT freshman Sebastian Robinson, the three-time reigning America East Rookie of the Week, hit a baseline jumper with 1:18 on the clock to put the Highlanders ahead 74-73.

Fordham immediately answered with a basket to go ahead 75-74, but Bronx native Elijah Buchanan was able to put NJIT back in front, getting to the basket and converting a contested layup with 37 seconds on the clock. The Rams called time out and made a pair of foul shots to go back in front one last time before de Graaf won the game for NJIT. 

Buchanan once again got to the basket, but his shot was short of the rim and de Graaf was able to convert the putback to give the Highlanders the victory. 

Gray hit four-three pointers to tie his career high, while Adam Hess also drained four triples on six attempts. Buchanan knocked down a pair of three-balls for the Highlanders, who shot 12-of-25 (48.0%) as a team from behind the three-point line. Gray (7-for-8) and de Graaf (8-for-10) combined to shoot 15-of-18 from the foul line, while Fordham shot just 17-for-31 (54.8%) from the charity stripe as a team. 

Four Highlanders finished in double figures for the third time this season with Gray's game-high 21 leading the way. Buchanan tallied 18, Hess scored 14, and de Graaf finished with a season-high 12 in his second game back from injury. 

Robinson scored seven points and dished out a team-high five assists, while Buchanan finished with four helpers.

The victory was the Highlanders' second-straight at Fordham as the 2018-19 squad also defeated the Rams in Rose Hill Gym. NJIT is now 2-1 all time vs. Fordham and 4-6 vs. opponents from the Atlantic 10. In addition to the two wins vs. Fordham, the Highalnders also have a pair of victories against Duquesne.