Men's Basketball Battles to First America East Win, 64-59

Published: Monday, January 20, 2025

Tariq Francis posted a stellar all-around performance, tallying 19 points, eight assists, five rebounds and three steals as NJIT earned its first America East victory of the season with a 64-59 win over New Hampshire on Saturday afternoon.

Sebastian Robinson followed close behind with 17 points, 13 of which came in the second half. Ari Fulton posted another strong game with 11 points and eight rebounds.

How it Happened
The game was close throughout, with neither side holding a lead of larger than nine at any point. Francis and Robinson got the Highlanders started at the offensive end, combining to score the first 10 NJIT points of the day. Francis also got the job done in the passing game, finding a cutting Tim Moore Jr. along the baseline late in the first half for one of his patented alley-oop jams.
 



New Hampshire locked down defensively late in the first, using a three-pointer from Sami Pissis to take a six-point lead with 2:28 left. NJIT would respond before the break, using an 8-0 run capped off by a Moore putback at the buzzer to give the Highlanders the lead at halftime.

Half number two was a battle, with the two teams separated by a possession for much of the early stages of it. NJIT would extend its lead to nine, 50-41, midway through the half thanks to an 11-3 burst. The stretch included a Cameron Piggee catch-and-shoot three, followed by an off-handed hook from Fulton to give the Highlanders a six-point edge. Robinson punctuated the run with a four-point play, knocking down a triple while his defender stepped into his landing space.
 



UNH fought back, retaking the lead by two with 5:05 left in the game. Francis would level the score the next possession with a mid-range jumper, sparking a 6-0 run which would give NJIT a two score lead. After the Wildcats once again tied the game with under a minute left, a reach-in foul at midcourt would put Robinson at the line. The sophomore sunk a pair of free throws to give NJIT the lead the rest of the way.

News & Notes

  • Today was Francis' third career game with at least 15 points, five rebounds and five assists.
  • Francis' eight assists are one off his career high of nine which he set at George Washington earlier this season on Nov. 18.
  • The win snaps NJIT's five-game losing streak against New Hampshire.
  • Fulton has surpassed double figures in scoring in five of his last six games.
  • Robinson's 10 made free throws are the most made in a game by a Highlander this season.