Tariq Francis Scores Career-Best 31 to Lead NJIT Past First Place Vermont, 63-61

The Vermont men's basketball team came into the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center with a 23-game America East Conference win streak, but Tariq Francis and the NJIT Highlanders defended their home court on Thursday and put an end to the nation's longest conference winning streak. The freshman scored 31 points to lead the Highlanders to a 63-61 victory over the Catamounts, who's last America East loss came nearly 400 days ago, on January 11, 2023.

Postgame Press Conference and Highlights

"The guys came out today and played absolutely great," explained first-year NJIT Head Coach Grant Billmeier.

Francis set the tone early, putting NJIT on the scoreboard first with a three-point just under two minutes into the game. Vermont answered with the next four points and the first half was back-and-forth until the Highlanders took a 24-23 lead into halftime as both teams shot well under 40 percent in the first 20 minutes. 

Vermont opened the second half with five-straight points and led by as many as five early, but the Highlanders refused to go away. NJIT took the lead back with 15:29 to play when Fracncis drove to the basket and scored to make the score 34-33. From that point on, neither team led by more than four until a Francis three-pointer and an old-fashioned three-point play from Elijah Buchanan put the Highlanders ahead by six, 58-52 with 1:34 left.

The Catamounts drained a pair of free throws to make it a four-point game and then cut it to two with two more foul shots with 52 seconds remaining. Vermont forced a turnover, but was unable to capitalize as Adam Hess and Francis each sank a pair of foul shots to keep NJIT in front.

After a Vermont three-pointer cut the Highlanders lead to one with two seconds left, veteran Mekhi Gray went 1-for 2 from the line and Vermont's desperation heave from three-quarters court sailed over the backboard to give the Highlanders the upset victory.

Francis' 31 points came on 11-of-19 shooting. The rookie also set a new career-high with five three-pointers and made all four of his foul shots. As a team, NJIT shot 78.6% percent (11-of-14) from the line, while Vermont was just 55% (11-of-20). 

The Catamounts won the battle on the glass 39-27, but NJIT was extremely efficient with the ball, turning it over just four times with a pair of freshmen sharing the point guard duties.

Buchanan joined Francis in double figures with 12 points, while Gray added eight and Hess chipped in with seven. Francis was also the Highlanders top rebounder, pulling down eight boards in the win. 

"We're not done, this wasn't a fluke," concluded Billmeier. "We practice hard all the time with the plan to be at our best in February and March."

The Highlanders will take the momentum from Thursday's win into Saturday's showdown with UMass Lowell, the second place team in the league. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. in the WEC.