NEWARK, NJ – NJIT (6-8) snapped a four-game skid with a 92-50 win over Dean College (MA) (8-6) on Thursday afternoon at Fleisher Athletic Center in Newark.
 
NJIT remains unbeaten at home on the season and has won seven straight in Newark dating back to last season. They are also 26-0 all-time against non-Division I foes with wins over Dean and Sarah Lawrence this season.
 
The Bulldogs battled early.  Naquwan Solomon made a layup to tie things at 11 apiece before NJIT's Tim Coleman hit a three on the other end to kick-start a 17-2 run a lead NJIT would not relinquish. In fact, starting with Coleman's triple, the Highlanders went on a 47-13 run over the remainder of the half to take a 58-24 lead into the locker room.
 
With 18:31 left to play, senior guard Damon Lynn hit one of his five threes on the afternoon to pass Clarence Pierce ('96) and become the school's all-time leading scorer.  The triple capped a 7-0 spurt by the Highlanders to start the second half and make it a 65-24 advantage for the hosts. The NCAA Division-I active career scoring leader came out of the game following his record-setter and would not return for the evening.
 
Junior guard Aziz Gilliam -- a Newark native and product of Malcolm X Shabazz H.S. -- paced Dean with a game-high 17 points while Solomon added 15 points, 10 rebounds and four steals.
 
NJIT sank 15-of-37 (40.5%) from beyond the arc, led by the five from Lynn and four from Jenkins. The Bulldogs hit 5-of-18 (27.5%) from downtown.
 
The Highlanders played stifling defense for all 40 minutes as they held the Bulldogs to 25.7% shooting from the field.

The Highlanders outrebounded Dean by a 55-38 margin, led by the 12 boards from Coleman and seven from senior guard Rob Ukawuba. Solomon's 10 rebounds led the way for the Bulldogs.
 

The Bulldogs have over 2 weeks off before their next tilt, Monday, January 9th at Brandeis University.  


Write-up courtesy of Joe Fitzhenry, New Jersey Institute of Technology