Game Highlights (VIDEO)

Anthony Tarke's Play of the Game (VIDEO)

Postgame Comments from Kennedy, Coleman (VIDEO)


NEWARK, NJ – NJIT (4-4) used a 14-5 run in the second half to pull away from St. Francis (PA) in an 83-70 victory over the Red Flash (3-3) on Wednesday night at Fleisher Athletic Center in Newark.
 
The Highlanders are now 4-0 all-time against St. Francis and have won five in a row against Northeast Conference foes dating back to the 2014-15 season.
 
NJIT is now 3-0 at home this season and 30-8 in their last 38 games in Newark.
 
After a jumper from Keith Braxton brought the Red Flash within two at 48-46 with 15:21 to play, NJIT embarked on a 14-5 run capped by a three-pointer from junior guard Chris Jenkins to make it a 62-51 lead for the hosts.
 
The run featured a pair of three-pointers each from Jenkins and senior guard Damon Lynn. As a team, the Highlanders sank 10-of-21 (47.6%) from beyond the arc.
 
The Red Flash would not get any closer than nine the rest of the way and NJIT led by double digits for the final 8:27 of the game.
 
In fact, the Highanders shot 60.0% from the field in the second half while holding St. Francis (PA) to 40.0% shooting in the final 20 minutes.
 
Senior forward Tim Coleman tied his career high with 27 points on 7-of-11 shooting (12-of-14 FTs) to lead NJIT while Lynn chipped in with 18 points of his own.
 
Sophomore center Abdul Lewis added seven points and six rebounds for head coach Brian Kennedy's squad and senior guard Rob Ukawuba contributed nine points, four rebounds and four assists.
 
Coleman had previously scored 27 on Dec. 10, 2015 against St. Francis Brooklyn.
 
Josh Nebo and Isaiah Blackmon each had 12 points to lead the way for the Red Flash while Braxton and Randall Gaskins Jr. added 11 apiece.
 
The first half was a back-and-forth affair that featured 10 lead changes and neither team led by more than six.
 
Braxton hit a pair of free throws to open up a 28-22 advantage for the visitors with 7:31 left in the first half before NJIT closed the half on a 17-10 run to take a 39-38 lead into the locker room. Lynn put an exclamation point on the run with a buzzer-beating three pointer to close the half, one of his three triples on the night.
 
The Highlanders outrebounded the Red Flash by a 33-31 count, led by eight boards from Coleman and six from Lewis. Braxton paced St. Francis with eight rebounds.
 
NJIT will hit the road on Saturday afternoon to battle UMass Lowell (2-6) of the America East conference. Opening tip from the Tsongas Center in Lowell is slated for 2 p.m. 


Write-up courtesy of Joe Fitzhenry