Box Score (PDF)

NEWARK, N.J. – Junior Ryan Jones (Rio Rancho, N.M.) registered a team-high 17 points for the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (5-3) in a 78-65 loss at NJIT (5-3) on Sunday afternoon in Newark.
 
"I thought we played a pretty good first half," said Head Coach Pat Duquette. "We battled back and I thought we had our confidence, but then we had a stretch where I thought their (Anthony) Tarke just dominated the game. We did see some good things on the perimeter defensively. This was not our best game and we faced some tough conditions. They play tough and physical on every possession, and 23 turnovers was way too many for us."
 
R. Jones matched a season high with eight field goals in the contest. Sophomore Rinardo Perry (Washington, D.C.) and freshman Obadiah Noel (Frederick, Md.) added to the offense with 13 points apiece, while redshirt-sophomore Connor Bennett (Wilmington, Mass.) led the team with nine rebounds.
 
A floater from R. Jones marked the first points of the day for the River Hawks, but back-to-back threes helped the Highlanders create an early, 12-4 margin. NJIT led by as many as eight twice more before sophomore Stefan Borovac (Stoney Creek, Ontario) drained a three to open an 11-3 spurt for the visitors that knotted the score at 19-19 with 6:20 remaining in the first half.
 
UMass Lowell forced another stalemate less than two minutes later following a jumper from senior Matt Harris (Erie, Pa.). Perry then drove to the hoop on consecutive possessions to put the visitors on top, 25-23, at 3:06. However, NJIT answered with 10 straight as part of a 12-3 run in the waning minutes of the period, to send the River Hawks into the break trailing, 35-28.
 
The Highlanders tallied the first two baskets coming out of halftime to take their first double-digit lead of the outing at 39-28. R. Jones would close the gap to nine, but the home squad worked to stretch its lead to 53-33 with 12:57 left to go.
 
NJIT was able to maintain a 15-point buffer until Bennett's two-handed dunk and a layup on the next play cut the difference to 69-55 with less than seven minutes remaining.
 
In the final minutes, UMass Lowell recorded the last seven points, including five from Noel, although the Highlanders would secured the 78-65 decision.
 
Anthony Tarke finished with 18 points and six rebounds to pace NJIT.
 
Sunday's contest marked eighth meeting between UMass Lowell and NJIT in the sport of men's basketball. The Highlanders now lead the all-time series, 5-3. The River Hawks will remain on the road this week, as they visit Wagner for a 7 p.m. contest on Tuesday, Dec. 5.