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NEWARK, NJ - The NJIT men's basketball team dropped its ASUN Conference Opener to league favorite Liberty on Saturday, falling to the Flames 65-38 at the WEC.

Liberty (16-1, 2-0 ASUN) used a 13-0 run in the first half to come back from an early NJIT (3-11, 0-1 ASUN) lead and then scored 13 unanswered in the second half to increase its lead to more than 20.

"First off, that's a really good team," explained Head Coach Brian Kennedy. "We played four 'high-major' opponents in our non-conference games, and they are every bit as good, if not better, that each of them. They are clearly the class of our league."

Shyquan Gibbs scored five-straight points early in the first half to turn a 4-4 game into an NJIT lead, but after the team's traded baskets the Flames responded with their first 13-point run over a span of almost four minutes. 

"There were two possessions on offense and two more on defense that really turned the game around midway through the first half," added Kennedy. "They appeared to turn it over twice, but were able to get the loose balls and turn them into baskets and we missed some open shots."

The Highlanders were able to get within five points several times during the final eight minutes of the half, but Liberty scored the final six points of the frame and took a 29-18 lead into the locker room at halftime. 

After shooting just 1-of-9 (11.1%) from beyond the arc in the first half, Liberty drained seven of its 11 second half three-point attempts (63.4%) to open the game up before ultimately winning by the 27-point margin.

NJIT shot just 4-of-17 (23.5%) from long range, led by Gibbs who hit a pair of triples. 

GIbbs scored 13 to pace the Highlanders, while San Antonio Brinson chipped in with 12 points. Souleymane Diakite led NJIT with 11 rebounds and four assists. 

Liberty was led by ASUN Preseason Player of the Year Caleb Homesley, who scored a game-high 20 points to go along with six rebounds and three blocks. 

"Our guys are fighting, there's no question," concluded Kennedy. "We had a stretch during first semester where our competitive level wasn't where I wanted it, but it's back. We fought hard tonight against a really good team and it's going to start to show."

NJIT will look to win its first conference game of the season on Thursday when it travels south to take on Jacksonville University. Tip-off against the Dolphins is scheduled for 7pm.