NJIT Hits Season Best Five-Game Winning Streak Over FGCU
The NJIT Highlanders (18-5, 6-2 ASUN) defeated Florida Gulf Coast (8-15, 3-5 ASUN) at the Wellness and Events Center on Wednesday, 66-54.
The win extended NJIT's winning streak to a season-best five as the Highlanders snatched their first win over the reigning ASUN regular season champions since 2015.
Sophomore Zach Cooks led the team in scoring with 17 points, followed by San Antonio Brinson who finished with 13 points and seven rebounds.
By the end of the game, 10 different Highlanders tallied points on the scoresheet.
"To hold [FGCU] to 54 points was really good," head coach Brian Kennedy said. "Our guards did an excellent job on their guards and down low I don't think they got much.
"It wasn't a pretty win, but it was a win all the same."
Zach Cooks and Diandre Wilson opened the game with back-to-back steals, which were turned into points before FGCU answered with a 9-0 scoring run.
Three pointers from Diego Willis, Donovan Greer and Cooks padded the Highlanders' lead as the team finished the half shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc.
In total, seven different Highlanders scored in the first half with Brinson leading the way with six points on 3-5 field goals.
After a back-and-forth period, NJIT opened up a 13-2 run at the halfway mark of the first half, which lasted into the final five minutes.
FGCU answered back hitting 5-6 field goals to shrink the lead to four points by halftime, 30-26.
Brinson came out of the gates with a three pointer on NJIT's opening possession, setting the tone for Shawndale Jones and Kjell de Graaf to follow suit.
Cooks took over the stats sheet, dropping nine consecutive points in a two minute span.
The Highlanders extended their lead thanks to and-ones from Greer and Cooks as NJIT headed into the final media timeout with a 14-point lead.
FGCU attempted to claw their way back into the game, going on a 5-1 run with three minutes remaining.
The Eagles applied full-court pressure and began fouling with 90 seconds remaining, but FGCU was unable to hit shots down the stretch and turnovers forced by NJIT ultimately won the game.
"Mohamed [Bendary] and Abdul [Lewis] did a great job defending down low," Kennedy said. "Our defense and rebounding has been our staple all year. The guys have really bought in."
NJIT hits the road for a three-game road trip beginning at Liberty on Saturday, February 2. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. (TV: ESPN+)
The Highlanders will then break for the week and head to Georgia where they will take on Kennesaw State on Saturday, February 9, at 4:30 p.m. ET. (TV: ESPN+).
NJIT then heads further south to Fort Myers, Florida, to take on Florida Gulf Coast once again on Wednesday, February 13, at 7 p.m. ET. (TV: ESPN+).
Finally, the Highlanders return home on Saturday, February 16, when they will host North Florida at 4 p.m. ET.
Tickets are available for purchase on www.NJITtix.com.