NEWARK, NJ– The NJIT men's basketball team hits the road for the second time this season on Thursday when it travels to Washington DC for a 7pm contest at American. 

The game will be streamed on ESPN+ as Dan Laing (play-by-play) and Gordon Austin (analyst) have the call.

All-Time Series
Thursday's matchup is the fourth all-time between the Highlanders and Peacocks. AU has won all three previous meetings in the series, which began on 11/29/2006 in Washington, DC. Last season, the teams met November 19 and the Eagles came away with a 58-53 victory.

LAST TIME OUT - Saint Peter's 75, NJIT 48 (Newark, NJ - Nov. 11, 2023)
The NJIT men's basketball team dropped its home opener on Saturday afternoon, falling 74-47 to visiting Saint Peter's at the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.

Saint Peter's scored the first seven points of the game and led the rest of the way en route to the 27-point win. Corey Washington's three-pointer with three seconds left in the first half gave the Peacocks a 38-25 lead at halftime. 

NJIT opened up the second half with five-straight points from Elijah Buchanan and a pair of free throws from Mekhi Gray cut the deficit to six, but that was as close as the Highlanders were able to get. Saint Peter's went on a 16-0 run midway through the second half to put the game away and led by as many as 29 before ultimately earning the 27-point victory. 

Adam Hess, who was 4-of-4 from the field (all three-pointers), led the Highlanders in scoring with 12 points and rebounding with six boards. 

Saint Peter's took advantage of the free throw line going 30-of-34 (88.2%) for the game. Washington led the Peacocks with 23 points and recorded a double-double as he also added 10 rebounds. 

NJIT will look to get its first win of the season on Thursday when it travels to American. Tip-off is slated for 7pm in Washington DC. 

Highlander Highlights
*    Thursday's  game is the third of the 2023-24 season -- which marks NJIT's 18th participating in Division I, fourth as a member of the America East and seventh in the Wellness & Events Center.
*    NJIT's roster makeup is rather unique with nine freshmen, one junior, one senior, and five post-graduate players, including four in their sixth collegiate season
*    The Highlanders return just five members from their 2022-23 squad, led by Mekhi Gray and Adam Hess, who each started most of last season. 
*    Kjell de Graaf is the most tenured Highlander as he is now in his sixth season with the program. Mekhi Gray is in his fourth season as a Highlander.
*    Tariq Francis stuffed the stat sheet in his first collegiate game at #13 Miami last Monday, scoring nine points, grabbing seven rebounds, dishing out five assists and recording three steals.
*    Francis and classmate Sebastian Robinson project to carry the load at Point Guard this season. Fellow freshmen Jake Goldberg should see plenty of time off the bench at the wing spot.
*    Grant Billmeier and Duane Simpkins were two of 25 NCAA Division I Head Coaches to make their debut last week. 
*    Adam Hess is as well-traveled as any player in the country. The sixth-year player has played at five different schools in all four time zones across the continental United States. Hess is the only Highlander to score 10+ points in each game this season. 
*    Two Highlanders - Elijah Buchanan and Daniel Schreier - followed top assistant coach RaShawn Stores to Newark from Manhattan College where Stores made a pair of NCAA Tournaments as a player and served as Interim Head Coach last season.

Next Up
The Highlanders return home to host Delaware Sate on Monday at the Wellness and Events Center. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.

Stay Connected
Stay up to date during the NJIT Men's Basketball season by following @NJITHoops on Twitter and Instagram and liking the NJIT Men's Basketball Basketball page on Facebook.