NEWARK, N.J. – Senior Quinton Mincey (Upper Marlboro, Md.) tallied a team-high 21 points, as the UMass Lowell men's basketball team (16-7, 7-3 AE) faced a 71-64 setback at NJIT (7-15, 3-7 AE) on Saturday afternoon.
 
Mincey, who shot 60% (3-5) from beyond the arc, was one of three double-digit scorers for the River Hawks. Behind him, sophomore Brayden O'Connor (Ottawa, Ontario) added 13 points alongside three assists, while senior Ayinde Hikim (Washington, D.C.) filled up the box score with 11 points, four rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal.  
 
After two early layups from O'Connor put the River Hawks up 4-2, the Highlander offense found its rhythm, going on a 16-0 run, including back-to-back triples, to jump out to an 18-4 edge. Although Mincey ended the scoring drought with five points of his own, NJIT refused to back down, using two quick baskets to extend their lead to 24-9 with 11 minutes remaining in the first half.
 
Looking to chip away at the deficit, the River Hawks used a 5-0 burst, featuring two tough layups from Hikim, to pull back within ten. However, the Highlanders' offense refused to be silenced, scoring 10 of 14 points to take their largest lead of the night, 34-18, with just over five minutes to go. UMass Lowell countered with eight straight points, but the hosts finished the half with an 8-2 run to take a 42-28 andvantage into the locker room.
 
Out of the break, the River Hawks' defense locked the opposition down, allowing only two baskets in nearly eight minutes. Meanwhile, on the offensive end, the River Hawks began to heat up, scoring 17 points in the same timeframe, capped off by a corner three from senior Anthony Blunt (Crownsville, Md.), to make it a two-possession score, 49-45, with 13:35 on the clock. The Highlanders responded, using a 7-2 stretch to build back their lead, but five straight by the visitors quickly erased the work that was done.
 
With just under eight minutes remaining, the Highlanders continued to thwart off comeback attempts by UMass Lowell, as they sank eight straight free throws. With 1:17 on the clock, Mincey hit his first of two triples to make it a two-possession game, but four more made free throws by the hosts sealed the 71-64 decision.
 
Next up, the River Hawks will return to action next Saturday, February 17, when they visit the Bryant Bulldogs. Tip off is scheduled for 4 p.m.