NEWARK, NJ– The NJIT men's basketball team wraps up its season-long three game road trip on Saturday when it travels to Niagara for it's final non-conference road game of the season. 

The game will tip-off at 1pm in the Gallagher Center and will be streamed on ESPN+. 

All-Time Series
Saturday's game at Niagara is the second all-time between the Highlanders and Purple Eagles. The teams began their season last December in Newark with NJIT earning a 62-53 win. Kevin Osawe scored 16 points and grabbed 13 boards to record a double-double in the win for the Highlanders, who also got 10 points from Miles Coleman and eight apiece from Mekhi Gray and Raheim Sullivan. 

Last Time Out: Wake Forest 83, NJIT 59 | Sat. 12/9 in Winston-Salem, NC
The NJIT men's basketball team hung tough with Wake Forest in non-conference action on Saturday evening, before ultimately falling 83-59 at the LJVM Colesium.

Three days after they defeated Fordham in a guarantee game, the Highlanders had a chance to do it again against an ACC foe as they trailed by just six, 38-32, at the half and seven, 60-53, with 7:38 left in the game. 

Wake Forest turned their seven-point lead into a 14-point advantage with seven-straight points and continued their late run, ultimately taking the game by the 24-point margin.

Adam Hess led the Highlanders with 15 points and was joined in double-figures by Elijah Buchanan, who scored 11. Kjell de Graaf put together his second-straight game, scoring nine points and grabbing a team-high six rebounds. 

Hess has now scored at least 12 points in seven of nine games for the Highlanders this season.

Parker Friedrichsen led all scorers with 19 points for the Demon Deacons, draining five-of-six three point attempts to lead five players in double figures for the hosts. 

Wake Forest shot 56.1% from the field and 42.9% from deep in the win, while the Highlanders shot 39.0% overall and 21.4% from long range.

NJIT will take the week off and look to bounce back next Saturday when it travels to Buffalo to take on Niagara. Tip-off is slated for 1pm.

BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK:
NJIT freshman Sebastian Robinson was named the America East Rookie of the Week for three straight weeks, earning the award in the second, third, and fourth weeks of the season. Robinson was first honored for his 17-point, 6-assist performance at American and he followed it up with earning the award again after averaging 18ppg and 3.5apg in a 1-1 week against Delaware St. and Wagner. Last week, Robinson averaged 9.0ppg, 4.0 rpg, and 2.5 apg in a pair of games at George Mason and vs. FDU.

Highlander Highlights
*    Saturday's game is the 10th 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 WEC.
*    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 will complete a season-high three-game road swing on Saturday at Niagara. NJIT will play its next three games at home against Medgar Evers, Morgan St, and UAlbany.
*    Kjell de Graaf is the most tenured Highlander as he is now in his sixth season with the program and played in his 100th game last Saturday at Wake Forest.
*    Sebastian Robinson was named America East Rookie of the Week three times this season. The Montclair, NJ, native and Roselle Catholic graduate was first honored after scoring 17 vs. American and again rewarded after averaging 18.0ppg and 4.5 apg in a 1-1 week for the Highlanders in late Nov. He recieved the honor again Mon. after averaging 9.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, and 2.5 apg last week. 
*    NJIT started three freshmen - Robinson, Jake Goldberg and Levi Lawal - three times this season. It marked the first time three freshmen started for the Highlanders since 2013-14.
*    Grant Billmeier was one of 25 NCAA Division I Head Coaches to make their debuts this season. The Highlanders' first win vs. DSU was actually Billmerier's second -career Head Coaching victory as he was credited for a win at Seton Hall in 2019-20.
*    Adam Hess, who led the America East in 3FG% last season, is shooting 41.1% from deep.
*    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 will open up a three-game road stand on Friday, December 22, when they host Medgar Evers at 1pm. 

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.