@NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL HIGHLANDERS BASKETBALL 2020-21 G5-6: NJIT (2-2, 1-1 AE) at University of Massachusetts Lowell (2-6, 1-3 AE) Saturday/Sunday, Jan. 2/3, 2021 • 3pm/1pm • Costello Athletic Center• Lowell, MA • ESPN3 2020-21 Record|AE:...... 1-1 | 0-0 2020-21 Record|AE: ...... 2-6 | 1-3 2019-20 Record|ASUN:...9-21 | 6-10 2019-20 Record|AE:...... 13-19 |7-9 2019-20 ASUN Finish ...... 8th 2019-20 AE Finish...... 6th KenPom:...... 187 KenPom:...... 232 All-Time Record vs. AE...... 15-24 NJIT All-Time vs. UML...... 4-5 Head Coach:...... Brian Kennedy Head Coach:...... Pat Duquette Record at NJIT (5th):...... 58-72 Record at UML (8th):...... 86-133 Career Record (5th):...... 58-72 Career Record (8th):...... 86-133 CIT SEMIFINALISTS 2015, 2016 • MEMBER OF THE AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE
2020-21 SCHEDULE BROADCAST INFORMATION: RECORDS Video: ESPN3 Chris Villani & Jim Borodawka DECEMBER Overall 2-2 19 at Temple L, 72-60 Home 0-0 23 at Rider W. 81-65 HIGHLIGHTS: Away 2-2 Neutral 0-0 27 at Vermont* L, 92-78 * This weekend’s games are the fifth and sixth of the 2020-21 season -- which marks NJIT’s 28 at Vermont* W, 81-80 America East 1-1 15th participating in Division I, first as a member of the America East and fourth in the Well- Home 0-0 ness & Events Center (WEC). Away 1-1 JANUARY * The Highlanders are coming off a wild victory Monday at Vermont. After losing to the Cata- Non-Conference 1-1 2 at UMass Lowell* 3pm mounts by double-digits Sunday and trailing by 10 in the second half Monday, NJIT came back Home 0-0 3 at UMass Lowell* 1pm and won the game in double overtime on a buzzer-beating putback by San Antonio Brinson. Away 1-1 9 MAINE* 2pm * NJIT earned its first win of the 2020-21 season on 12/23, defeating Rider 81-66 on the road. Neutral 0-0 10 MAINE* 2pm Dylan O’Hearn (19 points) and Zach Cooks (17 points) led the way for the Highlanders. Current streak W1 16 at Albany* 5pm * Six Highlanders made their NJIT debuts in the season-opener at Temple - Butler, O’Hearn, Long. W streak W1 17 at Albany* 3pm Miles Coleman, Da’Mir Faison, Jason Murphy and Mekhi Gray. Long. L streak L1 23 STONY BROOK* 2pm * Zach Cooks was named Second Team All-ASUN last season after averaging 19.7 ppg, the Leading at Half 1-0 24 STONY BROOK* 2pm second-highest single-season average in program history. In addition to leading the ASUN in Trailing at Half 1-2 Tied at Half 0-0 30 at Hartford* 2pm scoring, his 19.7 ppg would’ve also ranked atop the America East leaderboard. Overtime 0-0 * Cooks scored 20+ points 18 times last season and led the Highlanders in scoring in 24 of 30 31 at Hartford* 2pm Travel Days 1-1 games. The GA. native scored a then-program-record 35 points last November vs. Binghamton. Day 2-2 FEBRUARY * The program-record 35 points lasted less than two months as San Antonio Brinson, erupt- Night (6 PM on) 0-0 6 NEW HAMPSHIRE * 2pm ed for 37 points in an upset win at North Florida last January. Ranked Teams 0-0 7 NEW HAMPSHIRE * 2pm * NJIT set the program’s all-time wins record for the D-I era just two seasons ago, winning 22 Power Conf. 0-0 18 UMBC* 7pm games in 2018-19. All-Time 173-264 19 UMBC* 4pm * This weekend’s games conclude the Highlanders’ season-opening six-game road trip.NJIT Division I 142-264 27 at Binghamton* 2pm will play its first home game in 322 days when it hosts Maine on January 9. Non Division I 30-0 28 at Binghamton* 2pm
PROBABLE STARTERS HOME GAMES IN CAPS # Name PO YR HT WT Notes *America East Conference Game 2 San Antonio Brinson F Sr. 6-8 210 • Season-high 14 at Vermont (12/28), including buzzer-beater to win it • Program-record 37 points in upset win at North Florida last season 4 Zach Cooks G Sr. 5-10 165 • One of five named to Preseason All-America East Team • Led ASUN in ppg, spg, and mpg last season; 2nd Team All-ASUN • 7th in Division I in steals as a sophomore (88) • Lou Henson Award Preseason Watch List for Second-Straight Year 5 Diego Willis G Jr. 6-4 180 • Member of Mexico’s Senior National Team • Career-best 13 points in last year’s home opening W vs. Wagner 21 Souleymane Diakite F So. 6-9 230 • Career-high 20 pts in win at UVM (12/28); prev. career-high was 13 /SOO-lee-mahn dee-ah-KEY-tay/ • 2017-18: St. Benedict’s Prep (originally signed NIL to Oklahoma St.)) 23 Antwuan Butler G Jr. 6-0 205 • Started 37 games in two seasons at Austin Peay • Seven points, six assists, five rebounds in 31 min. at Temple (12/19) REST OF ROTATION # Name PO YR HT WT Notes 0 Adetokunbo Bakare G Fr. 6-2 185 • Attended High School in Newark at St. Benedict’s (same as S. Diakite). 1 Dylan O’Hearn G Jr. 6-4 185 • Double-digit scoring efforts in both games; 78.6% FG., 66.7% 3FG • Made first five shots of NJIT career en route to 11 points at Temple (12/19) 3 Miles Coleman F Jr. 6-5 210 • 2019-20 Southern Conference POY (NJCAA Division I) • Scored eight points at Rider (12/23) after tallying six at Temple (12/19) 13 Jason Murphy F R-Fr. 6-8 232 • Redshirted 2019-20 season • Scored first collegiate points at Vermont (12/27) 35 Da’Mir Faison F R-Fr. 6-7 200 • Redshirted 2019-20 season after injuring knee in preseason • First career start at Temple (12/19) 24 Mekhi Gray G Fr. 6-4 180 • One of nine Division I signees from Putnam Science Acad. last season • Scored five points off the bench at Rider (12/23) 32 Xaiver Mayo F So. 6-7 230 • Played in 28 of 30 games as a freshman MBB CONTACT: • Chosen to serve on America East Spread Respect Advisory Group Myles Rudnick 33 Kjell de Graaf F R-So. 6-10 230 • Missed all but nine games last season to knee injury; medical redshirt 201.602.2181 | [email protected] • 13 points, 5 rebounds in 38 minutes in lone start of season last year at Rutgers
@MylesRudnick 2020-21 HIGHLANDERS
#EVERYDAY @NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL
Vermont Once Again Tabbed Men’s AEHoops Favorites
BOSTON - For the fifth-straight season, Vermont is the America East men’s basketball preseason favorite as the conference unveiled its preseason poll and all-confer- ence team on Wednesday morning, exactly two weeks away from the start of the 2020-21 season. Additionally, five standout players were named to the league’s pre- season all-conference team led by returning first-team All-America East selections, Obadiah Noel and Steph Smith.
Vermont, last year’s regular-season champion which reached the league championship game before its can- cellation, received eight of 10 possible first-place votes and topped the poll with 80 points. The Catamounts are joined by Kentucky as the only team in the country to be tabbed their conference’s preseason favorite five years in a row. UMBC is second for the second-straight year earning the other two first-place votes and 72 points, while New Hampshire is third with 66 points, its best showing since the 2016-17 campaign. Noel and Smith are joined by NJIT’s Zach Cooks, who is ready for his first season in America East after earning All-Atlantic Sun honors with the Highlanders last season. Juniors Nick Guadarrama (UNH) and Cam Healy (UAlba- ny) round out the team.
PRESEASON COACHES POLL: Rank (1st-Place Votes) Total Pts 1. Vermont (8) 80 2. UMBC (2) 72 3. New Hampshire 66 4. UAlbany 51 5. Stony Brook 44 6. Hartford 43 7. UMass Lowell 38 8. NJIT 28 T9. Binghamton 14 Maine 14 PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM: Pos Name School Year Zach Cooks NJIT Sr. Nick Guadarrama New Hampshire Jr. Cam Healy Albany Jr. Obadiah Noel Umass Lowell Sr. Stef Smith Vermont Sr.
2019-20 AMERICA EAST POSTSEASON AWARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR ANTHONY LAMB, VERMONT
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR BEN SHUNGU, VERMONT
SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR RYAN DAVIS, VERMONT
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR GEORGE TINSLEY, BINGHAMTON
COACH OF THE YEAR JOHN BECKER, VERMONT
2019-20 ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM: Pos Name School Year Malik Ellison Hartford Gr. Anthony Lamb Vermont Sr. Obadiah Noel Umass Lowell Jr. Elijah Olaniyi Stony Brook Jr. 2020-21 AMERICA EAST STANDINGS: Stef Smith Vermont Sr. SCHOOL CONF CPCT. OVERALL PCT. STREAK Stony Brook 4-0 1.000 6-4 0.600 W5 2019-20 ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM: New Hampshire 2-0 1.000 3-2 0.600 W2 Pos Name School Year UMBC 3-1 0.750 7-2 0.778 L1 Ahmad Clark Albany Sr. Hartford 2-2 0.500 5-4 0.556 L2 Andrew Garcia Stony Brook Jr. Vermont 2-2 0.500 2-2 0.500 L1 KJ Jackson UMBC Sr. NJIT 1-1 0.500 2-2 0.500 W1 Christian Lutete Umass Lowell Gr. UMass Lowell 1-3 0.250 2-6 0.250 L3 Sam Sessoms Binghamton S0. Binghamton 1-3 0.250 1-6 0.143 W1 Maine 0-2 0.000 0-3 0.000 L3 UAlbany 0-2 0.000 0-3 0.000 L3 *as of 1/1/2021
#EVERYDAY @NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL HIGHLANDERS BY THE NUMBERS NJIT: QUICK FACTS UNIVERSITY INFORMATION Location: University Heights, Newark, NJ Founded: 1881 1 4 26 100 Enrollment: 11,400 (undergraduate & graduate) The Highlanders NJIT had four Zach Cooks has NJIT50 shot at least When Zach Cooks wild win at Ver- double-figure played at least 40 50.0% from the takes the floor on Nickname/Colors: Highlanders/Red & White (Blue accent) mont on Monday scorers in each minutes 26 times field in each of its Saturday, it will be Affiliation: NCAA Division I was the program’s game at UVM over his NJIT two wins. his 100th career Transition to Division : I 2006-07 first-ever America last weekend. career. He played game. Conference: America East (First season) East victory. O’Hearn, Cooks all 50 at Vermont and Brinson did it in the 12/28 2OT University President: Dr. Joel Bloom EdD in both games. victory. Director of Athletics: Lenny Kaplan Athletic Dept. Phone: 973-596-3636 2019-20 Quick Rewind: NJIT website: www.njit.edu The Highlanders finished the 2019-20 season with a 9-21 overall record and completed their final Athletics website: www.njithighlanders.com season in the ASUN Conference with a 6-10 record to earn the eight seed in the ASUN Tournament. Tickets website: www.njittix.com Highlights from last year’s season include: Twitter/Instagram: @NJITHoops • A 20-point come-from-behind victory at Cornell that saw senior captain Shyquan Gibbs hit a Facebook: NJIT Men’s Basketball game-winning driving layup in the final second. The play was featured at #4 on ESPN’s #SCTop10. • San Antonio Brinson erupted for a program-record 37 points in an upset win at eventual ASUN HEAD COACH BRIAN KENNEDY Regular Season Champion, North Florida. Alma Mater: Monmouth ’90 • Zach Cooks led the ASUN in scoring (19.7 ppg), steals (1.9 spg) and minutes played en route to Seasons: 5th as Head Coach (9th season at NJIT) being named Second Team All-ASUN. Career Record: 57-71 (.446); 128 games • After playing in just 16 games as a freshman, Souleymane Diakite had a breakout sophomore America East Record: 0-0 (.000) season, avering 7.8 ppg and 8.5 rpg, while setting a Division I program record with 59 blocked shots. TEAM INFORMATION GEORGIA ON YOUR MIND: Assistant Coaches: Jeff Rafferty (5th season) NJIT’s two seniors both hail from the state of Georgia and have combined to start 115 games over their Kim Waiters (6th season) first three seniors in Highlander uniforms. Zach Cooks (19.7 ppg) and San Antonio Brinson (11.0 ppg) Joe Gutowski (4th season) led NJIT in scoring during the 2019-20 season. The duo has combined to score 37+ points nine times Dir. of Basketball Ops: Danny Manuel (2nd season) in their careers, with the Highlanders winning six of those contests. The most points they’ve combined Athletic Trainer: Matt Koscs for in a game was 57 (35 for Cooks; 22 for Brinson) on November 22, 2019 in a loss to Binghamton. 2019-20 Record: 9-21 Brinson currently holds the program’s single game scoring record after a 37-point performance at 2019-20 Postseason: ASUN Quarterfinals North Florida last season, while Cooks’ 35-point game against the Bearcats ranks second all-time. Final NET: 310 Returning/Lost (Starters): 8/5 (3/2) GET YOUR BUDDY A SHOT!: In its wins last season, NJIT averaged 15.3 apg as opposed to under 10 in its losses. The Highlanders SPORTS INFORMATION dished out a season-high 22 assists vs. Lipscomb, 17 more vs. Wagner and 16 helpers vs. Kean, UNF Men’s BB Contact: Myles Rudnick and KSU. Zach Cooks led the team in assists with 65, while junior transfer Antwuan Butler finished Phone / Email: 201-602-2181 / [email protected] second on his Austin Peay squad with 107. Asst. AD, Media Relations: Stephanie Pillari Phone / Email: 973-596-8324 / [email protected] NJIT dished out 10 assists in both games so far this season. Butler has nine (six at Temple) to go along with just two turnovers. PROGRAM RECORDS Inaugural Season: 1922 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS VOL III: All-Time Record: 944-856 (.524) / 1,800 games All three of NJIT’s third-year players are international student-athletes: forward Souleymane Diakite Pre-NCAA (1922-73): 264-270 (.494) (6'9") is a native of Bamako, Mali; forward Kjell de Graaf hails from Rotterdam, Netherlands; and guard Division III Era (1974-96): 368-160 (.697) / 528 games Diego Willis is a product of Hermosillo, Mexico. Adding to the international flair, all three played high Division II Era (1997-06): 118-133 (.470) / 251 games school basketball in the Canary Islands -- an autonomous community of Spain. De Graaf is a redshirt Division I Era (2006-pres): 171-261 (.395) / 433 games sophomore this season, while Diakite and Willis are juniors. Vs. Division I Teams: 143-243 (.350) / 386 games Vs. Division III Teams: 23-0 (1.000) PUTTING THE NJ IN NJIT: Vs. Non NCAA Teams: 7-0 (1.000) Just four seasons ago, NJIT entered the season with the most localized roster in all of Division-I bas- Conference Titles (Reg): 1 (Great West 2012-13) ketball -- as the average player was just 39 miles from hometown to Newark. For the second-straight Conference Titles (Tour): 0 season, the Highlanders would rank towards the bottom of that list, as Newark native Adetokunbo National Postseason Tour: 7-3 Bakare replaces Shyquan Gibbs as the only NJIT player to hail from the Garden State. Bakare played his high school basketball blocks from NJIT at St. Benedict’s Prep. WELLNESS & EVENTS CENTER (WEC) Address: 100 Lock St., Newark, NJ, 07102 LOU HENSON AWARD WATCH LIST : Year Opened: 2017 Senior captain Zach Cooks was named to the Lou Henson Award Preseason Watch List for the sec- Capacity: 3,500 ond-straight season, it was announced on Tuesday, December 1. The Lou Henson Award is given an- Home Record (WEC): 26-19 (.578) / 45 games nually to the nation’s top Division I mid-major player. The award honors the late Henson, a former Home Record (D-I Era): 112-79* (.586) / 191 games Illinois and New Mexico State coach who won 775 games in 41 seasons. Henson is the winningest Home Record (Kennedy): 34-23 (.596) / 57 games coach in Illinois basketball history with 423 victories. During his 21 seasons (1975-1996), Henson led Home Record (AE Conference): 0-0 (.000) / 0 games the Fighting Illini to 16 postseason appearances, including 12 NCAA tournaments and a Final Four ap- *Does not include 0-9 in home games at Prudential Center **Does not include 0-2 in conference home games at Prudential Center pearance in 1989. Overall, 50 players were named to the Preseason Watch List. Cooks was one of just two America East players (Obadiah Noel; UMass Lowell) and one of just two from an NJ squad (Jahlil AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE Jenkins; FDU) named to the watch list. Established: 19789 SINGLE SEASON PPG LEADERS CAREER REBOUNDS LEADERS Former Name: Eastern College Athletic Conf.-North Number of Teams: 10 Rk PPG Name Years Rk REB Name Years Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts 1 20.6 Damon Lynn (SR) 2016-17 1 773 Abdul Lewis 2016-19 Commissioner: Amy Huchthausen Sr. Assoc. Commissioner (Media): Sean Tanish 2 19.7 Zach Cooks (JR) 2019-20 2 762 Tim Coleman 2013-17 Website: www.AmericaEast.com 3 18.3 Damon Lynn (JR) 2015-16 3 616 Isaiah Wilkerson 2008-12 2019-20 Champs (Reg): University of Vermont 2019-20 Champs (Tour): Univ. of Vermont / Univ. of Hartford 4 17.6 Zach Cooks (SO) 2018-19 4 533 Ky Howard 2012-16 NJIT All-Time Record: 1-1 (.500) / 2 games 5 17.5 Damon Lynn (SO) 2014-15 5 492 Jheryl Wilson 2007-11 NJIT Tournament Record: 0-0 (.000) / 0 games
#EVERYDAY @NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL
#PROTECTTHEWEC America East Rankings NJIT enters its fourth campaign in the state-of-the-art Wellness and Events Center (WEC) . In three seasons playing in the WEC, the Highlanders are 26-19 in this three NCAA NET* KEN POM** story, 220,000-square-foot building that features a 3,500-seat basketball arena. 1 Vermont 79 1 Vermont 108 2 Stony Brook 189 2 NJIT 187 3 UMBC 236 3 UMBC 201 4 New Hampshire 238 4 New Hampshire 218 5 Hartford 246 5 Stony Brook 225 6 UMass Lowell 257 6 UMass Lowell 232 7 Albany 268 7 Hartford 266 8 NJIT 310 8 Albany 301 9 Maine 318 9 Binghamton 340 10 Binghamton 332 10 Maine 347 *Final 2019-20 Rankings **As of 12/30/2020
THE HIGHLANDERS RECORD WHEN... Winning the opening tip 0-1 Scoring first 1-0 Scored on first 1-2 Leading at the half 1-0 Trailing at the half 1-2 Tied at the half 0-0 Leading with 2:00 left (regulation) 1-0 Trailing with 2:00 left (regulation) 0-2 Tied with 2:00 left (regulation) 1-0 In games decided by > 10 points 1-2 In games decided by 6-10 points 0-0 In games decided by < 5 points 1-0 Scoring 90+ points 0-0 Scoring 80-89 points 2-0 Scoring 70-79 points 0-1 Scoring 60-69 points 0-1 Scoring 50-59 points 0-0 Scoring < 50 points 0-0 Opponent scores 70+ points 1-2 Opponent scores < 70 points 1-0 Shooting > 50 percent 2-0 Shooting 40-49.9 percent 0-0 Shooting 30-39.9 percent 0-2 Shooting < 30 percent 0-0 No players in double figures 0-0 One player in double figures 0-0 Two players in double figures 1-1 Three players in double figures 0-0 Four players in double figures 1-1 Five players in double figures 0-0 Six players in double figures 0-0 Seven players in double figures 0-0 Making 5+ 3-pointers 2-2 Recording 12+ assists 0-0 Committing < 15 turnovers 2-2 Blocking 3+ shots 0-0 Making 5+ steals 2-2 Outshooting opponent (percentage) 2-0 Outshot by opponent (percentage) 0-2 Outrebounding opponent 0-1 Outrebounded by opponent 1-2 Rebound margin is even 0-0 NJIT vs. the America East At night (5 p.m. or later) 0-0 Opponent Record AE Play Streak Last W Last L During the day 2-2 On Monday 1-0 Albany 0-5 0-0 L5 n/a 11/27/15 On Tuesday 0-0 Binghamton 1-1 0-0 L1 11/9/18 11/20/19 On Wednesday 1-0 Hartford 0-1 0-0 L1 n/a 11/28/08 On Thursday 0-0 Maine 4-2 0-0 W4 1/19/15 12/1/07 On Friday 0-0 On Saturday 0-1 New Hampshire 3-0 0-0 W3 3/16/15 n/a On Sunday 0-1 Stony Brook 1-5 0-0 W1 12/28/16 12/28/15 In November n/a UMass Lowell 4-5 0-0 L2 12/3/17 12/11/19 In December 2-2 UMBC 2-0 0-0 W2 1/2/16 n/a In January 0-0 In February 0-0 Vermont 1-5 1-1 W1 12/28/20 12/27/20 In March 0-0 White Uniforms 1-0 Red Uniforms 1-2
#EVERYDAY @NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL
2020-21 ROSTER FACTS BY STATE/ BY CLASS Rk Team Rec. Pts. Prev. Confererence COUNTRY: 1 Gonzaga (31) 7-0 775 1 West Coast Seniors (2): Florida (1): 2 Winthrop 5-0 710 2 Big South Vermont 43, San- Miles Coleman San Antonio Brinson OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Zach Cooks 3 Georgia State 6-1 660 4 Sun Belt ta Clara 41, Little Rock 35, Northern Iowa 32, Georgia (2): 4 Drake 10-0 651 7 Missouri Valley Murray State 27, Eastern Kentucky 22, Stephen Juniors (5): San Antonio Brinson 5 Furman 6-3 625 5 Southern F. Austin 21, UNCG 21, Ohio 20, Kent State 15, Zach Cooks Antwuan Butler Akron 12, Austin Peay 10, Buffalo 10, Pacific 9, Miles Coleman 6 BYU 9-2 610 6 West Coast Souleymane Diakite Marist 8, South Alabama 5, Stony Brook 5, Bry- Maryland (1): 7 Saint Mary’s 8-2 601 3 West Coast ant 4, Iona 3, Kent State 3, Norfolk State 3, Al- Jason Murphy Dylan O’Hearn Diego Willis 8 Loyola Chicago 5-2 569 8 Missouri Valley abama A&M 2, Austin Peay 2, Drexel 2, Grand Michigan (1): 9 Liberty 8-3 512 9 ASUN Canyon 2, Hofstra 2, South Alabama 1, The Cit- Dylan O’Hearn Redshirt Sophomore (1): adel 1.. Kjell de Graaf 10 Southern Illinois 7-0 455 14 Missouri Valley New Jersey (1): 11 Mercer 7-1 397 10 Southern NOTE: The Mid-Major Poll is made up of teams from Adetokunbo Bakare Sophomore (1): the following conferences: America East, ASUN, Big Xavier Mayo 12 Belmont 8-1 385 12 Ohio Valley Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Horizon, Indepen- New York (2): 13 Chattanooga 9-0 378 16 Southern dents, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-East- Redshirt Freshmen (2): Mekhi Gray 14 South Dakota State 5-3 372 11 Summit ern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Xavier Mayo Da’Mir Faison Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Jason Murphy 15 Wright State 6-1 350 17 Horizon Belt, West Coast, Western Athletic. Pennsylvania (2): 16 New Mexico State 2-0 294 15 WAC Antwuan Butler Freshmen (2): Mehki Gray 17 Toledo 7-3 251 23 Mid-American The CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 is Da’mir Faison now in its 22nd season of existence. Adetokunbo Bakare 18 Abilene Christian 7-2 250 18 Southland Mali (1): 19 Missouri State 4-0 211 NR Missouri Valley Souleyman Diakite 20 Bradley 6-3 192 20 Missouri Valley Mexico (1): 21 San Francisco 6-4 122 21 West Coast Diego Willis 22 Louisiana 6-1 104 22 Sun Belt Netherlands (1): 23 Bowling Green 5-2 92 24 Mid-American Kjell da Graaf 24 Southern Utah 7-1 77 NR Big Sky 25 UMBC 7-2 71 NR America East December 28, 2020 Poll
KENNEDY NAMES THREE CAPTAINS Earlier this preseason, NJIT men’s basketball Head Coach Brian Kennedy announced senior San Antonio Brinson, senior Zach Cooks, and junior Souleymane Diakite will serve as team captains for the 2020-21 season.
It marks the second-straight year Cooks will serve as captain, while Brinson and Diakite earned the leadership role for the first time.
“I am very proud to announce our three captains for the upcoming 2020-21 season,” said Kennedy, who will begin his fifth season leading the Highlanders next month. “While each brings their own unique leadership abilities to the team, they form as one to continue to promote the core values and culture of NJIT men’s basketball.”
The three captains will help usher in a new era of NJIT men’s basketball as the Highland- ers will compete in the America East Conference for the first time this season. “San Antonio, Zach, and Souleymane are tremendous examples of the model ‘stu- dent-athlete’ and every coach should be so lucky to have this trio of players leading their teammates on- and off-the-court,” concluded Kennedy. KEESHAWN MASON SIGNS NJIT men’s basketball Head Coach Brian Kennedy announced the first signee in the program’s 2021 recruiting class on Friday, as Bella Vista College Prep student-athlete Keeshawn Mason officially signed his National Letter of Intent with the Highlanders. Mason, a 6-8, 220 LB forward, hails from Shawnee, Kansas and was a 5A All-State and Kansas Basketball Coaches Association (KBCA) All-State performer at St. Thomas Aquinas HS (KS) in 2019-20 before transferring to Bella Vista Prep.He averaged 19 ppg, 11rpg and 2.0 bpg at St. Thomas Aquinas, where he also played football. “We are thrilled to welcome Keeshawn Mason to the NJIT Highlander family.” announced Kennedy. “Keeshawn is a exceptional student-athlete with a great basketball pedigree. He is currently having an outstanding season with Bella Vista College Prep.” Mason and his Bella Vista teammates are currently playing on The Grind Session Circuit, which is known as one of the top high school basketball leagues in the country. He is averaging 15 ppg and 9rpg so far for a Bella Vista team that recently had four players sign with NCAA Divi- sion I programs. “Keeshawn posses a unique combination of size and strength, and he has a very high basket- ball ceiling,” added Kennedy. “We are looking forward to watching him continue to develop over the next four years as he will be a valued member of the NJIT community, both on the court and in the classroom.”“We are excited for Keeshawn and the entire Mason family to join us at NJIT,” concluded Kennedy.
Xavier Mayo Named to America East Spread Respect Advisory Group The America East Conference formally announced the members of its Spread Re- The Advisory Group, which was conceptualized and announced in July, consists spect Advisory Group in September. The group, which includes NJIT sophomore of 33 members and spans the entire spectrum of the conference including pres- Xacier Mayo. will address systemic racial injustice and inequality and its direct idents, campus diversity, equity and inclusion personnel, faculty members, ath- impact on those within the conference. letics directors, senior athletic administrators, coaches and student-athletes and “Our conference, from the top down, remains fully committed to being an indus- alumni. try leader by raising awareness and providing education around discrimination, “To be thought of and selected by the America East as a student-athlete represen- social justice, diversity and inclusion,” said America East Commissioner Amy Huch- tative on this important Advisory Group is a great honor,” said NJIT men’s basket- thausen. “The formation of the America East Spread Advisory Group will advance ball student-athlete Xavier Mayo. “I am excited to begin working with my fellow our progress in this area by bringing stakeholders from each of our campuses to- members and will do everything in my power to help further the Spread Respect gether to recommend actionable steps towards ending systemic racism within the mission across the conference and fight for racial equality and respect.” conference and beyond.”
#EVERYDAY @NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL
TODAY’S OPPONENT: TALE OF THE TAPE: TEAM RANKINGS (NCAA/CONF.) UML HIGHLANDERS (9-21, 6-10) 20-21 NCAA AE UMass Lowell (2-6, 1-3) 20-21 NCAA AE STAT CATEGORIES STATS RANK RANK STAT CATEGORIES STATS RANK RANK NJIT concludes its season-opening, six-game road trip Scoring Offense 75 135 1 Scoring Offense 64.9 285 7 this weekend when it travels north to take on UMass Lowell in a pair of America East contests. Scoring Defense 77.5 282 10 Scoring Defense 73.1 228 9 Scoring Margin -2.5 242 6 Scoring Margin -8.2 280 9 The Highlanders played their first-ever America East games last weekend, splitting two games on the road Field-Goal Percentage 42.6 226 4 Field-Goal Percentage 42.5 235 5 at Vermont. UMass Lowell is 1-3 in league play, split- ting with UVM and getting swept by Stony Brook. 3-Point Field-Goal PCT 33.3 162 6 3-Point Field-Goal PCT 32.1 205 8 Free-Throw Percentage 73.9 75 1 Free-Throw Percentage 66.8 233 5 Both of this weekend’s contests will be streamed via ESPN3. 3-point FGM 27 294 7 3-point FGM 50 165 5 3-pt Field Goal Attempts 81 298 8 3-pt Field Goal Attempts 156 161 5 All-Time Series This will be the 10th and 11th all-time meeting be- 3-Point FG Per Game 6.8 208 7 3-Point FG Per Game 6.2 251 9 tween NJIT and UMass Lowell, with the River Hawks leading the series 5-4 after taking the last two match- O-Rebounds Per Game 9.25 217 5 O-Rebounds Per Game 7.62 295 9 ups. D-Rebounds per Game 24.25 258 8 D-Rebounds per Game 26.25 169 5 The Highlanders have played the River Hawks more Rebounds 134 301 8 Rebounds 271 155 4 than any other America East team. Rebounds Per Game 33.5 263 8 Rebounds Per Game 33.88 252 7 Last Three Meetings: Rebound Margin -8 309 10 Rebound Margin -0.6 213 6 12/11/19: UMass Lowell 72, NJIT 66 -- Newark, NJ 12/1/18: UMass Lowell 94, NJIT 71 -- Lowell, MA Assists 39 315 9 Assists 89 193 3 12/3/17: NJIT 78, UMass Lowell 65 -- Newark, NJ Assists Per Game 9.8 309 9 Assists Per Game 11.1 284 8 Brushing Up on the River Hawks Assist-Turnover Ratio 0.89 221 6 Assist-Turnover Ratio 0.68 302 10 UMass Lowell was tabbed to finish seventh in the Turnovers (Fewest) 44 18 2 America East Preseason Poll, one spot ahead of NJIT. Turnovers (Fewest) 131 286 8 Turnovers Per Game 11 25 2 Turnovers Per Game 16.4 284 9 The River Hawks split their first two America East games against Vermont, and were swept in their last Turnovers Forced 14 176 8 Turnovers Forced 11.5 296 10 two at Stony Brook. Turnover Margin 3 73 2 Turnover Margin -4.9 303 10 Offensively, UML is led by Preseason All-America East FG Percentage Defense 44.6 235 7 FG Percentage Defense 43.4 203 5 Selection Obadiah Noel, who leads the league in scor- 36 266 ing, averaging 22.0 ppg. No other River Hawk is aver- 3-Pt FG Defense 7 3-Pt FG Defense 29 56 1 aging more than 7.0 ppg. Blocks 6 315 9 Blocks 27 108 2 Coach’s Corner Blocked Shots Per Game 1.5 312 9 Blocked Shots Per Game 3.4 145 3 Pat Duquette is in his eighth season leading the Hawks Steals 29 277 7 Steals 39 227 4 and carries a 86-133 record into this weekend’s series in Lowell. Steals Per Game 7.2 112 2 Steals Per Game 4.9 286 8
Duquette was hired at UMass-Lowell after three sea- Personal Fouls (Fewest) 79 31 4 Personal Fouls (Fewest) 179 306 10 sons on the staff at Northeastern, which followed 13 Personal Fouls Per Game 19.8 258 9 Personal Fouls Per Game 22.4 313 10 seasons on the bench at Boston College. Winning PCT 50 192 5 Winning PCT 25 271 7 The only coach in the Hawks’ Division I era, Duquette played collegiately at Division III powerhouse Williams College.
#EVERYDAY @NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL
2020-21 NJIT Men's Basketball Page 1/3 Category Leaders as of Dec 30, 2020 All games
Points Scoring Average ## Player G Pts Pts/G ## Player G Pts Pts/G 4 Cooks, Zach 4 75 18.8 4 Cooks, Zach 4 75 18.8 1 O'Hearn, Dylan 4 66 16.5 1 O'Hearn, Dylan 4 66 16.5 2 Brinson, San Antonio 4 40 10.0 2 Brinson, San Antonio 4 40 10.0 21 Diakite, Souleymane 4 40 10.0 21 Diakite, Souleymane 4 40 10.0 3 Coleman, Miles 3 26 8.7 3 Coleman, Miles 3 26 8.7 23 Butler, Antwuan 4 22 5.5 23 Butler, Antwuan 4 22 5.5 5 Willis, Diego 4 13 3.3 5 Willis, Diego 4 13 3.3 24 Gray, Mekhi 4 9 2.3 24 Gray, Mekhi 4 9 2.3 33 de Graaf, Kjell 4 5 1.3 33 de Graaf, Kjell 4 5 1.3 35 Faison, Da'mir 2 2 1.0 35 Faison, Da'mir 2 2 1.0 13 Murphy, Jason 3 2 0.7 13 Murphy, Jason 3 2 0.7
Field Goal Percentage Field Goal Attempts ## Player FG Att Pct ## Player G Att Att/G 1 O'Hearn, Dylan 24 39 .615 4 Cooks, Zach 4 66 16.5 21 Diakite, Souleymane 16 29 .552 1 O'Hearn, Dylan 4 39 9.8 3 Coleman, Miles 7 14 .500 2 Brinson, San Antonio 4 38 9.5 24 Gray, Mekhi 3 6 .500 21 Diakite, Souleymane 4 29 7.3 2 Brinson, San Antonio 16 38 .421 23 Butler, Antwuan 4 24 6.0 4 Cooks, Zach 25 66 .379 33 de Graaf, Kjell 2 6 .333 Field Goals Made 35 Faison, Da'mir 1 3 .333 ## Player G Made Made/G 23 Butler, Antwuan 7 24 .292 4 Cooks, Zach 4 25 6.3 5 Willis, Diego 3 16 .188 1 O'Hearn, Dylan 4 24 6.0 2 Brinson, San Antonio 4 16 4.0 21 Diakite, Souleymane 4 16 4.0 3 Coleman, Miles 3 7 2.3
3-Point FG Percentage 3-Point FG Attempts ## Player 3FG Att Pct ## Player G Att Att/G 3 Coleman, Miles 3 5 .600 4 Cooks, Zach 4 22 5.5 1 O'Hearn, Dylan 7 16 .438 1 O'Hearn, Dylan 4 16 4.0 4 Cooks, Zach 9 22 .409 5 Willis, Diego 4 14 3.5 2 Brinson, San Antonio 4 11 .364 2 Brinson, San Antonio 4 11 2.8 33 de Graaf, Kjell 1 4 .250 23 Butler, Antwuan 4 9 2.3 5 Willis, Diego 2 14 .143 23 Butler, Antwuan 1 9 .111 3-Point FG Made ## Player G Made Made/G 4 Cooks, Zach 4 9 2.3 1 O'Hearn, Dylan 4 7 1.8 2 Brinson, San Antonio 4 4 1.0 3 Coleman, Miles 3 3 1.0 5 Willis, Diego 4 2 0.5
2020-21 Individual Team-Leaders 2020-21 Ind. Stat Distribution ALL-TIME RECORDS (includes ties) PTS AST REB BY D-I CONFERENCES DBL Player Name Pts Reb Ast Blk Stl Player Name 10+ 20+ 5-9 10+ DBL America East (16- Ivy League (4-18) 24) MAAC (4-16) Adetokunbo Bakare Adetokunbo Bakare American Athletic MAC (0-3) San Antonio Brinson 1 San Antonio Brinson 2 (1-6) MEAC (7-7) Antuwan Butler 3 1 1 Antuwan Butler 1 Atlantic 10 (3-5) Mountain West (0-1) Zach Cooks 2 2 1 3 Zach Cooks 4 1 1 ASUN (32-43; 1-5 PS) NEC (20-13) ACC (0-3) Pac 10 (0-1) Miles Coleman Miles Coleman 1 Big 10 (1-5) Patriot (14-26) Kjell de Graaf 1 Kjell de Graaf Big 12 (0-1) SEC (0-1) Souleymane Diakite 1 1 1 1 Souleymane Diakite 2 2 2 BIG EAST (1-23) Sun Belt (2-1) Da’Mir Faison Da’Mir Faison Big Sky (1-1) Independents (7-15) Mehki Gray Mehki Gray Big South (0-1) Xavier Mayo Xavier Mayo CAA (2-3) Jason Murphy Jason Murphy C-USA (0-3) Dylan O’Hearn 2 1 Dylan O’Hearn 4 1 Great West (27-41) Diego Willis 1 Diego Willis Horizon (1-0)
#EVERYDAY @NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL
LAST TIME OUT: at Vermont: NJIT 81, VERMONT 80 (2OT) -- BURLINGTON, VT (12/28/20) BRINSON’S BUZZER-BEATER LIFTS NJIT TO HISTORIC WIN O’Hearn Leads the Highlanders with 26 Points BURLINGTON, VT - In a game that when we were down. I was proud of NJIT (2-2,1-1 America) -vs- Vermont (2-2,2-2 America) lasted 50 minutes, it was a put-back the way we fought and grinded.” 12/28/20 at Burlington, VT Date: 12/28/20 Score By Period 1 2 OT 1 OT 2 Total layup in the final tenth of a second T Time: 2:00 PM NJIT 31 33 8 9 81 Site: Burlington, VT that made the difference. The teams traded baskets for the rest Referees: Michael Fortunato,Michael Palau,John Garbinski Vermont 37 27 8 8 80 Notes: 2020-21 Men's Basketball. Round: 0. NJIT vs Vermont. of regulation as neither team led by Played at Roy L. Patrick San Antonio Brinson’s buzzer-beating more than four points for the final 13 layup put NJIT ahead for good as the minutes of the second half. NJIT had NJIT 81 # Player GS MIN FG 3PT FT ORB-DRB REB PF A TO BLK STL PTS Highlanders earned their inaugural a chance to win it at the buzzer, but 21 Souleymane Diakite * 48 8-10 0-0 4-6 1-11 12 1 0 3 1 4 20 America East Conference victory over a three-point attempt from Cooks 04 Zach Cooks * 50 7-15 2-6 0-0 0-4 4 4 3 0 0 1 16 02 San Antonio Brinson * 46 6-15 1-3 1-1 2-2 4 2 1 2 0 0 14 defending league champions and pre- failed to go down and game headed 05 Diego Willis * 20 1-4 0-3 0-0 0-1 1 4 0 0 0 0 2 23 Antwuan Butler * 31 0-3 0-1 1-2 1-5 6 5 3 4 0 1 1 season favorite Vermont on Monday to overtime. 01 Dylan O'Hearn 40 11-16 3-5 1-1 1-2 3 3 2 2 1 1 26 at Patrick Gymnasium. 24 Mekhi Gray 9 1-2 0-0 0-0 0-2 2 0 0 1 0 0 2 33 Kjell de Graaf 6 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Vermont scored the first four points TM TEAM 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 2-0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Career-high performances from Dylan of overtime, before O’Hearn stepped Totals - 250 34-66 6-18 7-10 7-27 34 19 9 12 2 7 81 Team Summary FG 3PT FT O’Hearn (26 points) and Souleymane up with a pair of huge three-pointers First Half 14-25 56.00 % 0-4 0.00 % 3-3 100.00 % Diakite (20 points) led the way for to put NJIT back in front. UVM was Second Half 14-28 50.00 % 4-9 44.44 % 1-2 50.00 % OT 1 3-6 50.00 % 2-3 66.67 % 0-0 0.00% NJIT (2-2, 1-1 America East), while se- able to tie the game once more and OT 2 3-7 42.86 % 0-2 0.00 % 3-5 60.00 % nior captains Zach Cooks (16 points) a driving runner from Antwuan Butler Total 34-66 51.5 % 6-18 33.3 % 7-10 70.0 % Technical Fouls: none Second Chance Points: 7 Scores Tied: 9 times(s) Points in the Paint: 46 Fast Break Points: 6 and Brinson (14 points) helped the fell just short to force a second over- Lead Changed: 6 times(s) Points off Turnovers: 12 Bench Points: 28 Largest Lead: 4 2nd-07:53 squad earn the historic victory over time period. UVM (2-2, 2-2 America East). Vermont 80 # Player GS MIN FG 3PT FT ORB-DRB REB PF A TO BLK STL PTS In the second overtime, it was 35 Ryan Davis * 32 11-14 1-2 4-4 1-3 4 4 2 2 0 1 27 “These four guys were outstanding O’Hearn who stepped up big once 24 Ben Shungu * 42 5-9 0-3 6-6 1-5 6 3 6 2 0 0 16 00 Stef Smith * 41 4-11 1-5 2-4 0-1 1 1 3 4 0 1 11 tonight,” said Fifth-Year Head Coach again with five points, but his most 14 Isaiah Powell * 38 2-5 1-2 0-0 2-5 7 1 1 0 0 0 5 21 Justin Mazzulla * 38 1-5 0-1 0-1 1-3 4 1 1 1 0 3 2 Brian Kennedy. “Dylan was huge important play came in the final sec- 15 Nick Fiorillo 14 4-9 1-6 0-0 0-1 1 1 2 0 0 0 9 42 Tomas Murphy 8 2-3 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 0 0 0 5 down the stretch and in overtime, onds with the Catamounts ahead 81- 12 Bailey Patella 15 1-1 0-0 0-0 0-4 4 3 0 0 1 0 2 Souleymane was a monster down 80. The junior lost his footing driving 55 Robin Duncan 9 1-6 0-0 0-0 1-2 3 0 1 0 1 0 2 01 Aaron Deloney 11 0-1 0-1 1-2 1-1 2 0 3 1 0 0 1 low, San Antonio’s shot at the buzzer to the hoop, but was able to pass it 05 Duncan Demuth 2 0-2 0-0 0-0 1-0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 TM TEAM 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 4-2 6 0 0 1 0 0 0 speaks for itself, and Zach was Zach.” behind the back to Diego Willis on the Totals - 250 31-66 5-21 13-17 12-27 39 15 19 11 3 5 80
perimeter instead of traveling or los- Team Summary FG 3PT FT Cooks played all 50 minutes in the win ing the ball. Willis fired up a despera- First Half 14-28 50.00 % 4-10 40.00 % 5-8 62.50 % Second Half 12-29 41.38 % 1-10 10.00 % 2-2 100.00 % against the Catamounts, which de- tion heave, which fell short. OT 1 3-5 60.00 % 0-0 0.00% 2-2 100.00 % OT 2 2-4 50.00 % 0-1 0.00 % 4-5 80.00 % feated NJIT by 14 on Sunday and held Total 31-66 47.0 % 5-21 23.8 % 13-17 76.5 % a double-digit, second half advantage Luckily for the Highlanders, however, Technical Fouls: none Second Chance Points: 8 Scores Tied: 10 times(s) Points in the Paint: 46 Fast Break Points: 8 Largest Lead: 10 2nd- in Monday’s contest. Brinson was in the right place at the Lead Changed: 6 times(s) Points off Turnovers: 11 Bench Points: 19 15:00 right time and put it in the basket as Instead of folding, the Highlanders time expired. scored 12-straight midway through the second half and took their first In addition to Diakite’s career-best lead since early in the first half on scoring numbers, the Mali native UVM, scored a game-high 27 points in a layup from Diakite. Prior to the also pulled down a game-high 12 re- Kennedy and the Highlanders defeat- defeat. Diakite basket, NJIT got back-to- bounds to record his sixth-career dou- ed UVM for the first time in six op- back three-pointers from Cooks and ble-double. portunities dating back to the series NJIT will look to bring the momentum O’Hearn to tie the contest. beginning in 2007. Additionally, NJIT to Lowell, MA, next weekend when it “Vermont is an excellent defensive is just the eighth America East Con- plays two more America East games “Yesterday was our first America East team and very well-coached, so it ference loss for Vermont in its last 78 against host UMass Lowell. Saturday’s game and we were able to go over helped to have a bunch of different conference games (including tourna- contest begins at 3pm, while Sunday’s the tape and correct some of the mis- options on offense, both inside and ments). will start at 1pm. takes,” added Kennedy. “Today was on the perimiter,” concluded Kenne- a new day though, and it was a new dy. “Souleymane is a big reason we Ryan Davis, who missed last week- opportunity. I was excited in the fight won this game.” end’s series split at UMass Lowell for
Zach Cooks San Antonio Brinson #EVERYDAY @NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL
2020-21 NJIT HIGHLANDERS MEN’S BASKETBALL ROSTER NUMERICAL No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Pos. Hometown/High School (Last School) 0 Adetokunbo Bakare Fr. 6-2 185 G Newark, NJ / St. Benedict’s 1 Dylan O’Hearn Jr. 6-4 185 G Westland, MI / Carolina Basketball Acad. (West. Okla St. CC) 2 San Antonio Brinson Sr. 6-8 220 F Thomson, GA / Thomson (South Kent School | CT) 3 Miles Coleman Jr. 6-5 210 F West Palm Beach, FL / William T. Dwyer (Indian River CC) 4 Zach Cooks Sr. 5-10 165 G Lawrenceville, GA / Berkmar 5 Diego Willis Jr. 6-4 180 G Hermosillo, Mexico / Canaries Basketball Academy [Spain] 13 Jason Murphy R-Fr. 6-8 240 F Owings Mills, MD / St. Frances Academy 21 Souleymane Diakite Jr. 6-9 230 F Bamako, Mali / St. Benedict’s 23 Antwuan Butler Jr. 6-0 205 G Philadelphia, PA / Cardinal O’Hara (Austin Peay) 24 Mekhi Gray Fr. 6-4 180 G Montrose, NY / Putnam Science Academy 32 Xavier Mayo So. 6-7 230 F Beacon, NY / The Hill School (PA) 33 Kjell de Graaf R-So. 6-10 230 F Rotterdam, Netherlands / Canaries Basketball Academy [Spain] 35 Da’mir Faison R-Fr. 6-7 200 F Philadelphia, PA / Hazleton Area
ALPHABETICAL No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Pos. Hometown/High School (Last School) 0 Adetokunbo Bakare Fr. 6-2 185 G Newark, NJ / St. Benedict’s 2 San Antonio Brinson Jr. 6-8 200 F Thomson, GA / Thomson (South Kent School | CT) 23 Antwuan Butler Jr. 6-0 205 G Philadelphia, PA / Cardinal O’Hara (Austin Peay) 3 Miles Coleman Jr. 6-5 210 F West Palm Beach, FL / William T. Dwyer (Indian River CC) 4 Zach Cooks Jr. 5-9 155 G Lawrenceville, GA / Berkmar 33 Kjell de Graaf So. 6-10 210 F Rotterdam, Netherlands / Canaries Basketball Academy [Spain] 21 Souleymane Diakite So. 6-9 210 F Bamako, Mali / St. Benedict’s 35 Da’mir Faison Fr. 6-7 200 F Philadelphia, PA / Hazleton Area 24 Mekhi Gray Fr. 6-4 180 G Montrose, NY / Putnam Science Academy 32 Xavier Mayo Fr. 6-7 230 F Beacon, NY / The Hill School (PA) 13 Jason Murphy Fr. 6-8 232 F Owings Mills, MD / St. Frances Academy 1 Dylan O’Hearn Jr. 6-4 185 G Westland, MI / Carolina Basketball Acad. (West. Okla St. CC) 5 Diego Willis So. 6-4 175 G Hermosillo, Mexico / Canaries Basketball Academy [Spain]
Head Coach: Brian Kennedy (Monmouth ’90), fifth season Assistant Coaches: Jeff Rafferty (Springfield ’97), fifth season PRONUNCIATIONS: Kim Waiters (Robert Morris ’11), sixth season Adetokunbo Bakare Add-et-oh-kun-bo Joe Gutowski (Roanoke ‘13), second season Bock-er-ee Dir., Basketball Operations: Danny Manuel (Davis & Elkins ‘10) second season Kjell de Graaf KELL duh-GRAF Head Athletic Trainer: Matt Koscs Souleymane Diakite SOO-lee-mahn Head Strength & Cond.: Bobby Fisk dee-ah-KEY-tay Da’mir Faison Dah-Meer Mekhi Gray Mick-hi Dylan O’Hearn Oh-Hurn
#EVERYDAY @NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL HEAD COACH BRIAN KENNEDY Monmouth ’90 | 4th Season as Head Coach (58-72) | 9th Season at NJIT
@BKennedyhoops KENNEDY'S CAREER
RIAN KENNEDY IS IN HIS FIFTH SEASON AS HEAD COACH OF NJIT MEN’S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH (4): AFTER SERVING AS NJIT’S TOP ASSISTANT UNDER JIM ENGLES FOR FOUR SEASONS (2012- 16). HE WAS INTRODUCED AS THE 11TH HEAD MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH IN PROGRAM BHISTORY ON APRIL 15, 2016. ENTERING THE 2020-21 SEASON, THE HIGHLANDERS HAVE POST- YEAR SCH CONF W-L PCT NOTE ED A 126-126 (500) RECORD SINCE KENNEDY’S ADDITION TO THE COACHING STAFF IN 2012. 2016-17 NJIT ASUN 11-20 .355 First year as a D-I Head Coach THE 2019-20 HIGHLANDERS WON NINE GAMES, AS JUNIOR CAPTAIN ZACH COOKS LED THE ASUN IN SCORING (19.7 PPG) AND EARNED SECOND TEAM ALL-ASUN HONORS. NJIT’S BIG- 2017-18 NJIT ASUN 14-16 .467 Finished in 4th place in ASUN GEST VICTORY OF THE SEASON CAME ON THE ROAD IN JACKSONVILLE AS THE HIGHLANDERS 2018-19 NJIT ASUN 22-13 .629 Most wins in NJIT’s D-I Era DEFEATED ASUN REGULAR SEASON CO-CHAMPION NORTH FLORIDA BEHIND A PRO- GRAM-RECORD 37-POINT PERFORMANCE FROM JUNIOR SAN ANTONIO BRINSON. 2019-20 NJIT ASUN 9-21 .300 Win #50 came vs. Kean (12/22)
COACH KENNEDY MADE NJIT HISTORY IN THE 2018-19 SEASON WITH A 22-13 RECORD, 11 2020-21 NJIT AE 2-2 .500 ROAD WINS AND 13 NON-CONFERENCE WINS – ALL PROGRAM RECORDS. NJIT’S ASUN TOTAL 58-72 .446 CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTERFINALS WIN AT FLORIDA GULF COAST MARKED THE PROGRAM’S FIRST-EVER ASUN TOURNAMENT VICTORY.
KENNEDY, WHOSE INVOLVEMENT WITH THE SPORT OF BASKETBALL LITERALLY COVERS HIS ASSISTANT COACH (9): ENTIRE LIFE, IS THE SON OF THE LATE BOB KENNEDY, A FORMER COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL COACH AND THE NEPHEW OF PAT KENNEDY, WHO WAS A DIVISION I HEAD COACH FOR 31 YEARS AT IONA, FLORIDA STATE, DEPAUL, MONTANA, AND TOWSON. YEAR SCH CONF HEAD COACH W-L NOTE
THE KENNEDY FAMILY BUSINESS, THE HOOP GROUP, BEGAN IN THE TRENTON, NJ, CYO IN 1997-98 DePaul CUSA Pat Kennedy 7-23 1963 WITH SUMMER BASKETBALL CAMPS AND MOVED IN 1969 TO CHERRY VALLEY, PA, AND 1998-99 DePaul CUSA Pat Kennedy 18-13 NIT Quarterfinalist THE POCONO INVITATIONAL BEGAN.IN 1991, THE HOOP GROUP ACQUIRED THE EASTERN INVITATIONAL CAMP AND RENAMED IT THE HOOP GROUP ELITE CAMP. A FEW YEARS LATER, 1999-00 DePaul CUSA Pat Kennedy 21-12 NCAA Tournament THE HOOP GROUP BEGAN RUNNING GRASSROOTS TOURNAMENTS AND THE SUBSEQUENT YEARS HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS ALUMNI GO ON TO PLAY IN THE NBA, INCLUDING KOBE BRY- 2000-01 DePaul CUSA Pat Kennedy 12-18 ANT, AMAR’E STOUDEMIRE, 2010 #1 OVERALL PICK JOHN WALL, 2011 #1 PICK KYRIE IRVING 2001-02 DePaul CUSA Pat Kennedy 9-19 AND 13 OTHER FIRST-ROUND PICKS THAT YEAR. 2012-13 NJIT Great West Jim Engles 16-13 Reg. Season Champs NUMEROUS LEGENDARY COACHES HAVE LECTURED AT THE CAMP, INCLUDING THE LATE JIM VALVANO AND HALL OF FAMERS LOU CARNESECCA, ROLLIE MASSIMINO, HOOP GROUP 2013-14 NJIT Ind. Jim Engles 13-16 SKILLS CAMP DIRECTOR BOB HURLEY, BOB KNIGHT, AND HERB MAGEE. 2014-15 NJIT Ind. Jim Engles 21-12 CIT Tournament
KENNEDY, WHO PLAYED AT BOTH PRINCETON AND MONMOUTH (1990 GRADUATE), TOOK 2015-16 NJIT ASUN Jim Engles 20-15 CIT Tournament OVER THE FAMILY BUSINESS AFTER GRADUATING FROM MONMOUTH IN 1990 AND WAS PRESIDENT AND CO-FOUNDER WHEN IT WAS REBRANDED FROM THE POCONO INVITA- TIONAL TO THE HOOP GROUP AND BECAME THE LARGEST BASKETBALL INSTRUCTIONAL DIVISION-I PLAYING CAREER (3): ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD.
HE ENTERED THE COLLEGE COACHING RANKS IN 1997 AS AN ASSISTANT COACH AT DEPAUL ON THE STAFF HEADED BY HIS UNCLE PAT. THERE, HE WAS PART OF ONE OF MAJOR COLLEGE YEAR SCH CONF W-L GP PPG RPG APG BPG SPG BASKETBALL’S GREAT TURNAROUNDS, AS THE BLUE DEMONS, WHO WON FEWER THAN FIVE 1986-87 Princeton IVY 16-19 3 0.7 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 GAMES THE YEAR BEFORE HE ARRIVED, MADE THE NATIONAL INVITATION TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINALS IN 1999 AND THEN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT IN 2000 AS A TEAM RANKED IN 1988-89 MonmouthNEC 15-13 27 6.8 2.1 4.1 0.0 1.4 THE NATIONAL TOP 25. 1989-90 Monmouth*NEC 17-12 27 5.2 2.6 4.0 0.1 1.3 “BK” AS HE IS KNOWN TO HIS MANY FRIENDS, WAS INVOLVED IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE * Team Captain DEPAUL PROGRAM AND WAS A LEADER IN EFFORTS THAT BROUGHT IN A GROUP NAMED AS THE NATION’S TOP RECRUITING CLASS IN 1998 BY THE SPORTING NEWS.
AMONG THE PLAYERS HE HELPED BRING TO DEPAUL FIVE FUTURE NBA PLAYERS: QUENTIN RICHARDSON, BOBBY SIMMONS, STEVEN HUNTER, PAUL MCPHERSON, AND ANDRE BROWN. TEAMS THAT WON NEW JERSEY STATE TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS CROWNS FOLLOWING HIS SOPHOMORE AND JUNIOR SEASONS. HE STEPPED ASIDE FROM COACHING FROM 2002 THROUGH 2009, WHEN HE WORKED ON WALL STREET IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR. COLEMAN CARRIED THAT SUCCESS INTO HIS NJIT CAREER, AS HE FINISHED AS THE PROGRAM’S ALL-TIME LEADING REBOUNDER (762) AND FOURTH ALL-TIME SCORER (1,462). HE DEPARTED HE RETURNED TO THE HOOP GROUP AS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, SERVING IN THAT CAPACITY THE NCAA RANKS AS THE ONLY ACTIVE DIVISION-I PLAYER WITH AT LEAST 1,400 POINTS, 750 FROM 2009 UNTIL 2012, WHEN HE JOINED THE STAFF AT NJIT. REBOUNDS, 225 ASSISTS (244), 150 STEALS (154) AND 135 BLOCKS (135).
IN HIS FIRST YEAR AS AN ASSISTANT, THE HIGHLANDERS COLEMAN AND ROB UKAWUBA, ALSO PART OF KENNEDY’S INAUGU- CAPTURED THEIR FIRST DIVISION I LEAGUE TITLE WHEN THEY RAL RECRUITING CLASS, ARE NOW BOTH PLAYING PROFESSIONALLY WERE REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS OF THE OLD GREAT IN THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE OF CANADA. WEST CONFERENCE. IN THE HISTORIC 2018-19 SEASON, THE WINNINGEST IN PROGRAM AS WITH DEPAUL IN HIS FIRST TURN AS A COLLEGE COACH, HISTORY, THE TEAM EARNED ITS THIRD CIT BERTH AND ADVANCED KENNEDY SPEARHEADED THE RECRUITING EFFORTS FOR NJIT AS FAR AS THE CIT QUARTERFINALS FOLLOWING A FIRST ROUND AND HE FACED A MAJOR TASK IN HIS FIRST RECRUITING YEAR, WIN AS SECOND ROUND BYE AS ONE OF THE TOP THREE SEEDS IN WITH ALL THREE DOUBLE-FIGURE SCORERS FROM THE 2012- THE TOURNAMENT. 13 GREAT WEST CHAMPIONS GRADUATING IN MAY 2013. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN PROGRAM HISTORY, NJIT RECEIVED ITS KENNEDY’S FIRST RECRUITING CLASS (CLASS OF 2017) HAS FIRST AP TOP-25 POLL VOTE ON DEC. 10, 2018. THE HIGHLANDERS GONE DOWN AS THE BEST TO DATE IN THE HISTORY OF THE RECEIVED ONE VOTE FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE WEEKS (DEC. 10-24). PROGRAM WERE VITAL TO THE HIGHLANDERS MEN’S BASKET- BALL REACHING UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS. KENNEDY’S 2018-19 TEAM EARNED MULTIPLE ACCOLADES FOR THEIR PERFORMANCES ON AND OFF THE COURT, INCLUDING THE EXTREMELY INEXPERIENCED 2013-14 TEAM FINISHED ABDUL LEWIS (PRESEASON ALL-ASUN, FIRST TEAM ALL-ASUN), WITH A 13-16 RECORD. BUT OVER THE THREE SEASONS, THE ZACH COOKS (SECOND TEAM ALL-ASUN), SHYQUAN GIBBS (ASUN SQUADS WON A COMBINED 52 GAMES -- INCLUDING 20 WIN ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM, COSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT), DIANDRE SEASONS IN 2014-15 (21-12) AND IN 2015-16 (20-15). IN FACT, WILSON (ASUN ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM) AND REILLY WALSH (PRE- IN EACH OF THOSE TWO SEASONS, THE HIGHLANDERS AD- SEASON FAN-VOTED ASUN DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR). VANCED TO THE SEMIFINALS OF THE NATIONAL COLLEGEIN- SIDER.COM POSTSEASON TOURNAMENT (CIT). INDIVIDUALLY, LEWIS BROKE TIM COLEMAN’S ALL-TIME REBOUNDS RECORD (773), ECLIPSED 1,000 CAREER POINTS (1,015, NJIT & 232 IN ADDITION, THE HIGHLANDERS WON THEIR FIRST-EVER SOUTH ALABAMA), REACHED 1,000 CAREER REBOUNDS (773, NJIT & GAME OVER A RANKED OPPONENT WHEN THEY UPSET 227, SOUTH ALABAMA), BROKE HIS OWN SINGLE-GAME REBOUNDS #17/#16 MICHIGAN IN DECEMBER 2014 AND SCORED RECORD VERSUS JACKSONVILLE WITH 21 BOARDS AND SET NJIT’S THEIR FIRST-EVER WIN OVER A BIG EAST CONFERENCE Kennedy with members of his inaugural recruiting class (players left DOUBLE-DOUBLE RECORD WITH 22 IN HIS THREE SEASONS FOR THE OPPONENT WHEN THEY TOPPED ST. JOHN’S IN DECEMBER to right): Tim Coleman, Damon Lynn and Rob Ukawuba HIGHLANDERS. COOKS ALSO ADDED HIS NAME TO THE RECORD 2015. BOOKS BY TYING DAMON LYNN’S SINGLE-GAME SCORING RECORD (34 POINTS) AGAINST QUINNIPIAC IN THE CIT FIRST ROUND AND TWO MEMBERS OF THAT FIRST RECRUITING CLASS PUT THEIR NAMES ALL OVER THE NJIT AVERAGED 17.6 PPG, THIRD MOST IN NJIT HISTORY. RECORD BOOKS. BRIAN KENNEDY IS THE PROUD FATHER OF FOUR CHILDREN: DAUGHTERS TAYLOR, TATUM, AND DAMON LYNN, WHO WAS PICKED SECOND-TEAM ALL-STATE (ALL GROUPS) BY THE STAR-LED- KELLY; AND SON BRIAN, JR. GER AS A SENIOR AT UNION CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL, BECAME THE PROGRAM’S ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER ON NOV. 11, 2016, AND FINISHED HIS CAREER WITH 2,153 POINTS. HE CURRENTLY RANKS FIFTH IN DIVISION-I HISTORY WITH 434 CAREER THREE-POINTERS.
TIM COLEMAN CAME IN THE SAME CLASS, ENTERING NJIT AFTER GRADUATING FROM ST. ANTHONY HIGH SCHOOL IN JERSEY CITY, NJ, WHERE HE PLAYED FOR NAISMITH MEMORIAL HALL OF FAME COACH BOB HURLEY. AT ST. ANTHONY, COLEMAN WAS A CONTRIBUTOR ON
#EVERYDAY @NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL
NJIT HIGHLANDERS ASSISTANT COACHES JEFF RAFFERTY KIM WAITERS SPRINGFIELD ’97 | 5TH SEASON AT NJIT ROBERT MORRIS ’11 | 6TH SEASON AT NJIT
eteran men’s basketball assistant coach Jeff im Waiters joined the NJIT men’s basketball VRafferty changed locations from Newark, Kstaff as an assistant in July 2015. Delaware, to Newark, NJ, joining the NJIT men’s In five seasons as an assistant coach at NJIT, basketball coaching staff in June 2016 after serving Waiters has helped lead the Highlanders to 76 nine years at the University of Delaware, where he victories. held the title of Associate Head Coach since before the 2013-14 season. Coach Waiters helped make NJIT history in the 2018-19 season with a 22-13 record, 11 road wins and 13 non-conference wins – all program Rafferty has mentored several All-Conference selections in his tenure at records. NJIT’s ASUN Championship Quarterfinal win at Florida Gulf Coast NJIT, including senior Zach Cooks, a Second Team All-ASUN honoree in marked the program’s first-ever ASUN tournament victory. The team 2019-20. Cooks led the ASUN in scoring (19.7 ppg) last season. earned its third CIT berth and advanced as far as the CIT Quarterfinals following a first round win as second round bye as one of the top three In addition to Delaware, Rafferty, a 1997 graduate of Springfield College, seeds in the tournament. Waiters got involved with coaching when he has also coached at America East Conference foes Umass Lowell and New was an undergraduate at Robert Morris in Pennsylvania. At Robert Mor- Hampshire. ris, Waiters worked as a student assistant and after graduating in 2011 with a bachelor’s of Business Management, Waiters became the Director He and his wife, Whitney, are the parents of sons Patrick and Brendan of Skills Camps at the Pocono Invitational, a prestigious overnight camp and a daughter, Kaitlyn. that began operation in 1963. From the Pocono Invitational, Waiters headed to The Hoop Group, the largest basketball instruction organiza- tion in the world.
JOE GUTOWSKI DANNY MANUEL ROANOKE ’13 | 4TH SEASON AT NJIT DAVIS & ELKINS ‘10 | 2ND SEASON AT NJIT
oe Gutowski joined the NJIT men’s bas- anny Manuel was hired as the Director of Op- Jketball staff in August 2017 as the pro- Derations for the NJIT men’s basketball program gram’s Director of Basketball Operations and in August, 2019, following an impressive stint at was promoted to a full-time Assistant Coach his high school alma mater, The Miller School. role in the summer of 2019.In three seasons The 2020-21 season will be Manuel’s second on at NJIT, Gutowski has helped lead the Highlanders to 45 victories. the Highlanders’ staff after an impressive tenure at Miller Coach Gutowski helped make NJIT history in the 2018-19 season with a 22- Manuel took over a Miller boy’s basketball program that won eight 13 record, 11 road wins and 13 non-conference wins – all program records. games the season before he arrived and transformed it into one of NJIT’s ASUN Championship Quarterfinals win at Florida Gulf Coast marked the top prep school programs in the country. In four seasons at Miller, the program’s first-ever ASUN tournament victory. The team earned its Manuel sent several players to play in college and teams won 83 games, third CIT berth and advanced as far as the CIT Quarterfinals following a making the Virginia state championship three times, including 2017-18 first round win as second round bye as one of the top three seeds in the when they won the title. tournament. The 22 victories in 2018-19 were he most in program history Additionally, Manuel was named the Virginia State Coach of the Year and NJIT received its first-ever AP Top-25 Poll vote on Dec. 10, 2018. The following the 2017-18 season Highlanders received one vote for three consecutive weeks (Dec. 10-24). Manuel played collegiately at Davis and Elkins College, where he graduat- Gutowski entered college coaching in 2014-15 as an Assistant Coach and ed from in 2010 with a degree in history. Recruiting Coordinator for Muhlenberg College men’s basketball program. Following his playing days, Manuel coached at St. Mary’s Ryken High He graduated in 2013 with a bachelor’s in Health and Physical Education School (Maryland) and Wheeling Jesuit. He earned a Master’s in organi- from Roanoke College in Salem, VA. zational leadership from Wheeling Jesuit in 2013.
INDIVIDUAL HONORS 2020-21 PRESEASON
AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE Preseason All-Conference Zach Cooks
Lou Henson Award Preseason Watch List Zach Cooks
#EVERYDAY @NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL ADETOKUNBO BAKARE 0 FR | G | 6-2 | 185 | Newark, NJ | St. Benedict’s Prep
BAKARE’S GAME-BY-GAME FG 3FG FT REB PRIOR TO NJIT: DATE OPP GS M-A M-A M-A O-D TOT PF TP A TO BK ST M Born and raised in Newark...attended high school down the street from NJIT at St. Benedict’s Prep, where he 12-19 @TEM DNP played for Head Coach Mark Taylor...played AAU basketball for the NJ Roadrunners and was coached by Sandy 12-23 @RID DNP Pyonin...scored 17 points in the Prep A final vs. Blair to help lead the Gray Bees to a Championship. 12-27 @UVM DNP 12-28 @UVM DNP 1-2 @UML 1-3 @UML 1-9 UM 1-10 UM 1-16 @ALB 1-17 @ALB 1-23 SB 1-24 SB 1-30 @UH 1-31 @HU 2-6 UNH 2-7 UNH 2-18 UMBC 2-19 UMBC 2-27 @BU 2-28 @BU
SEASON/CAREER HIGHS Points Season: Career: Rebounds: Season: Career: Assists Season: Career: Blocks Season: Career: Steals Season: Career: 3-Pointers Season: Career: Minutes Season: Career:
BAKARE'S CAREER STATISTICS MIN SHOOTING 3-PTS F-THROWS REBOUNDS SCORING YEAR GP GS TOT AVG FG FGA PCT FG FGA PCT FT FTA PCT OFF DEF TOT AVG PF FO A APG TO BLK STL PTS PPG 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 CAREER
#EVERYDAY @NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL DYLAN O’HEARN 1 JR | G | 6-4 | 185 | Westland, MI |Carolina Baskeball Academy | Western Oklahoma St. CC
O’HEARN’S GAME-BY-GAME FG 3FG FT REB 2020-21 DATE OPP GS M-A M-A M-A O-D TOT PF TP A TO BK ST M Made NJIT debut off the bench at Temple (12/19)...drained first five FG, including a 3FG, and finished the game with 11 points 12-19 @TEM 5-6 .833 1-2 0-2 2 3 11 2 2 0 0 21 in 21 minutes...continued his impressive and efficient offensive start with a game-high 19 points on 6-of-8 shooting in the win 12-23 @RID 6-8 3-4 4-4 0-5 5 1 19 0 2 0 0 27 at Rider (12/23). 12-27 @UVM 2-9 0-5 6-8 0-2 2 2 10 2 1 0 1 27 12-28 @UVM 11-16 3-5 1-1 1-2 3 3 26 2 2 1 1 40 WESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE CC: 1-2 @UML Played two seasons at Western Oklahoma State College, where he ranked 13th in NJCAA Division I in scoring (23.1 ppg). A native of Westland, MI, O’Hearn shot nearly 50.0% from the field at Western Oklahoma State, while shooting better than 40.0% 1-3 @UML from three-point range and 80.0% from the foul line. O’Hearn, an NJCAA Division I Region 2 All-Region Honoree. 1-9 UM 1-10 UM HIGH SCHOOL 1-16 @ALB Played at Romulus HS (MI) before doing a post-graduate year at the Carolina Basketball Academy...helped lead Romulus to the 1-17 @ALB state semifinals...AP All-State....averaged 26 ppg, 8rpg, and 5apg at Carolina Basketball Academy, where he scored 10+ points in 1-23 SB 33 of 40 games played, including 19 30+-point games. 1-24 SB 1-30 @UH PERSONAL: Born in Windsor, Ontario, before moving to Michigan in the third grade...has dual citizanship between Canada and the United 1-31 @HU States...intends to major in history or communications. 2-6 UNH 2-7 UNH 2-18 UMBC 2-19 UMBC 2-27 @BU 2-28 @BU
SEASON/CAREER HIGHS Points Season: 26 at Vermont (12/28) Career: 26 at Vermont (12/28) Rebounds: Season: 5 at Rider (12/23) Career: 5 at Rider (12/23) Assists Season: 2 (2) last: at Vermont (12/28) Career: 2 (2) last: at Vermont (12/28) Blocks Season: 1 at Vermont (12/28) Career: 1 at Vermont (12/28) Steals Season: 1 at Vermont (12/28) Career: 1 at Vermont (12/28) 3-Pointers Season: 3 (2) last: at Vermont (12/28) Career: 3 (2) last: at Vermont (12/28) Minutes Season: 27 at Rider (12/23) Career: 27 at Rider (12/23)
O’HEARN’S CAREER STATISTICS (NJIT ONLY) MIN SHOOTING 3-PTS F-THROWS REBOUNDS SCORING YEAR GP GS TOT AVG FG FGA PCT FG FGA PCT FT FTA PCT OFF DEF TOT AVG PF FO A APG TO BLK STL PTS PPG 2020-21 4 0 115 28.8 24 39 .615 7 16 .438 11 13 .846 1 11 12 3.0 9 0 5 1.3 8 1 2 66 16.5 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 CAREER 4 0 115 28.8 24 39 .615 7 16 .438 11 13 .846 1 11 12 3.0 9 0 5 1.3 8 1 2 66 16.5
#EVERYDAY @NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL SAN ANTONIO BRINSON 2 SR | F | 6-8 | 210 | Augusta, GA | Thomson HS/South Kent School (CT) CAPTAIN BRINSON'S GAME-BY-GAME FG 3FG FT REB 2020-21: Started at Temple (12/19) and scored eight points while grabbing four boards in 20 minutes....scored eight points at Rider (12/23). DATE OPP GS M-A M-A M-A O-D TOT PF TP A TO BK ST M 12-19 @TEM * 3-9 1-4 1-2 2-2 4 2 8 0 0 0 2 20 2019-20: Started 26 of 28 games played, missing two non-conference contests due to injury...second on the team in scoring 12-23 @RID* 4-8 0-1 0-4 2-1 3 3 8 1 2 0 1 23 (11.0 ppg) and rebounding (5.1 rpg)...set program-record with career-high 37 points on 16-of-23 shooting in victory over 12-27 @UVM* 4-7 2-3 2-4 0-2 2 2 12 0 0 0 0 22 ASUN Conference Regular Season co-champion North Florida...also tallied eight rebounds and five assists in the win over the Ospreys...had 15 games of 10 or more points, including the final three games of the season...double-double (22 points, 11 re- 12-28 @UVM* 6-15 1-3 1-1 2-2 4 2 14 1 2 0 0 46 bounds) vs. Binghamton...seven games of 7+ rebounds...played 37+ minutes on 10 occasions, including all 40 minutes vs. North 1-2 @UML Alabama and at Liberty. 1-3 @UML 2018-19: 1-9 UM • Played all 35 games, including 32 starts 1-10 UM • Finished second on the team in blocks (18) 1-16 @ALB • One of NJIT’s most efficient players shooting from the field at 45.6%; led the team in points twice 1-17 @ALB • 2/9 at KSU: 16 points and six rebounds in 25 M • 1/12 at UNA: Led team in scoring with 16 points; hit 5-9 FGs and drained a three pointer 1-23 SB • 12/31 at Duquesne: First double-double feat. 15 points, 15 rebounds 1-24 SB • 12/8 - 12/15: Averaged 11.3 ppg (34), 6.0 rpg (18) and 1.0 spg (3) 1-30 @UH • 12/15 at FDU: Scored a career-high 18 pts on 6-11 FG, 2-5 3FG; added 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal in 32 M • 12/11 at Fordham: Tied season high with 8 rebounds; added 7 points, 1 block and 1 steal in 27 M 1-31 @HU • 11/24 at LIU: Tied his career-high with 15 points (6-12, 1-3, 2-3) with season-high 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block 2-6 UNH • 11/14 vs. Kean: Put forth a full stat line with 12 points (5-8 FG), 4 rebounds, 1 block and 1 steal in 21 M 2-7 UNH • 11/6 vs. Colgate: Recorded 14 points (one shy of career-high), 4 reb, 2 stl and 1 blk in a career-high 33 M 2-18 UMBC 2017-18: 2-19 UMBC • Scored in each of his last 4 G, averaging 5.8 ppg (23) and 4.3 rpg (17) while shooting 8-16 FG (.500) 2-27 @BU • In 2-G span from Dec. 22-28, averaged 5.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg in 11.5 mpg 2-28 @BU • DNP in NJIT’s first two games this season after sustaining a concussion in preseason • 2/26 vs. UNF (ASUN Quarterfinals): Led NJIT with career-highs in both points (15) & rebounds (9) in just 18 M • 2/22 at USC Upstate: Made first start of NCAA career; recorded 4 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal in 24 M • 12/22 vs. Bryn Athyn: Grabbed a team-high and career-high 9 rebounds with 6 pts, 2 ast and 3 blk in 15 M • 11/22 vs. Kean: Recorded then-career-highs is points (7), rebounds (2), assists (3) and minutes (11) • 11/18 @ Seton Hall: Played his first career NCAA game and logged his first point and rebound in 7 minutes • Scored 2 points with 3 rebounds in lone exhibition game vs. St. Peter’s (DNP vs. Princeton )
Prior to NJIT: The 6-foot-8, 200-pound forward, comes to NJIT after attending South Kent School in Connecticut. South Kent School, which plays in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Conference, advanced to the AAA Semifinals against Northfield and played in the National Prep School Championship Tournament first round, defeating Tilton and advancing to the quarterfinals against Hargave Military Academy. ...Brinson graduated Thomson High School in 2016, which he also attended as a freshman. As a sophomore and junior, Brinson attended Aqanis High School in Augusta, Georgia, where he was named to the 2015 All-State Class A honorable mention. ...He played AAU for the Georgia Power, based in Augusta, leading the team in points and rebounds.
Personal: Majoring in business information systems at NJIT. SEASON/CAREER HIGHS Points Season: 14 at Vermont (12/28) Career: 37^ at North Florida (1/11/20) Rebounds: Season: 4 at Temple (12/19) Career: 15 at Duquesne (12/31/18) Assists Season: 1 (2) last: at Vermont (12/28) Career: 5 at North Florida (1/11) Blocks Season: Career: 3 at North Alabama (1/27/19) Steals Season: 2 at Temple (12/19) Career: 3: at North Alabama (2/27/20) 3-Pointers Season: 2 at Vermont (12/27) Career: 3 at Colgate (11/6/19) Minutes Season: 46 at Vermont (12/28) Career: 46 at Vermont (12/28)
^Set NJIT D-I Record BRINSON'S CAREER STATISTICS MIN SHOOTING 3-PTS F-THROWS REBOUNDS SCORING YEAR GP GS TOT AVG FG FGA PCT FG FGA PCT FT FTA PCT OFF DEF TOT AVG PF FO A APG TO BLK STL PTS PPG 2017-18 23 1 186 8.1 22 56 .393 0 12 .000 16 23 .696 17 31 48 2.1 16 1 12 0.5 7 7 8 60 2.6 2018-19 35 32 676 19.3 78 171 .456 12 48 .250 41 66 .621 29 113 142 4.1 85 4 19 0.5 53 18 19 209 6.0 2019-20 28 26 837 29.9 111 271 .410 27 71 .380 58 90 .644 22 121 143 5.1 64 4 41 1.5 49 7 18 307 11.0 2020-21 4 4 111 27.8 17 39 .436 4 11 .364 4 11 .364 6 7 13 3.3 9 0 2 0.5 4 0 3 42 10.5 Total 90 63 1810 20.1 228 537 .425 43 142 .303 119 190 .626 74 272 346 3.8 174 9 74 0.8 113 32 48 618 6.9
#EVERYDAY @NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL MILES COLEMAN 3 JR | F | 6-5 | 205 | West Palm Beach, FL| William T. Dwyer HS | Indian River CC
COLEMAN’S GAME-BY-GAME FG 3FG FT REB 2020-21 DATE OPP GS M-A M-A M-A O-D TOT PF TP A TO BK ST M Made NJIT debut at Temple (12/19), scoring six points in 19 minutes of action off the bench....scored nine points in 14 minutes 12-19 @TEM 2-4 1-2 1-1 0-2 2 1 6 1 1 0 0 19 off the bench at Rider (12/23). 12-23 @RID 2-3 2-2 3-5 1-1 2 2 9 1 1 0 0 14 12-27 @UVM 3-7 0-1 5-7 2-0 2 3 11 0 1 0 0 17 INDIAN RIVER CC/SANTA FE CC: 12-28 @UVM DNP Played one season at Indian River State College (FL) after starting his collegiate career at Santa Fe College (FL)...Coleman was 1-2 @UML named the 2019-20 Southern Conference Player of the Year and a NJCAA Division I Honorable Mention All-American after 1-3 @UML averaging 18.8ppg and leading the Pioneers to a 22-8 overall record and the Southern Conference Championship. 1-9 UM 1-10 UM HIGH SCHOOL Played for Head Coach Fred Ross at William T. Dwyer HS...First Team All-County in 2017 and 2018, helped lead Dwyer to a 1-16 @ALB Conference Championship. 1-17 @ALB 1-23 SB 1-24 SB 1-30 @UH 1-31 @HU 2-6 UNH 2-7 UNH 2-18 UMBC 2-19 UMBC 2-27 @BU 2-28 @BU
SEASON/CAREER HIGHS Points Season: 11: at Vermont (12/27) Career: 11: at Vermont (12/27) Rebounds: Season: 2 (3) last: at Rider (12/27) Career: 2 (3) last: at Rider (12/27) Assists Season: 1 (2) last: at Rider (12/23) Career: 1 (2) last: at Rider (12/23) Blocks Season: Career: Steals Season: Career: 3-Pointers Season: 1 at Temple (12/19) Career: 1 at Temple (12/19) Minutes Season: 19 at Temple (12/19) Career: 19 at Temple (12/19)
COLEMAN’S CAREER STATISTICS (NJIT ONLY) MIN SHOOTING 3-PTS F-THROWS REBOUNDS SCORING YEAR GP GS TOT AVG FG FGA PCT FG FGA PCT FT FTA PCT OFF DEF TOT AVG PF FO A APG TO BLK STL PTS PPG 2020-21 3 0 50 16.7 7 14 .500 3 5 .600 9 13 .692 3 3 6 2.0 6 0 2 0.7 2 0 0 26 8.7 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 CAREER 3 0 50 16.7 7 14 .500 3 5 .600 9 13 .692 3 3 6 2.0 6 0 2 0.7 2 0 0 26 8.7
#EVERYDAY @NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL ZACH COOKS 4 SR | G | 5-10 | 165 | Lawrenceville, GA | Beckmar CAPTAIN COOKS' GAME-BY-GAME FG 3FG FT REB 2020-21: DATE OPP GS M-A M-A M-A O-D TOT PF TP A TO BK ST M Started at Temple (12/19) and led all scorers with 18 points...finished with 17 points and a team-high seven 12-19 @TEM* 6-23 2-4 4-4 1-3 4 1 18 1 1 0 2 40 rebounds in the win at Rider (12/23). 12-23 @RID* 5-10 2-3 5-6 0-7 7 1 17 1 4 0 2 35 12-27 @UVM* 7-18 3-9 7-8 2-10 12 3 24 1 2 0 5 39 2019-20: 12-28 @UVM* 7-15 2-6 0-0 0-4 4 4 16 3 0 0 1 50 • Second Team All-ASUN; Third-Team Met Writers; ASUN Academic Honor Roll 1-2 @UML • Scored 20+ points in 18 of 30 games and led the Highlanders in scoring 24 times 1-3 @UML • Led ASUN in steals for second-straight season 1-9 UM • Two double-doubles on the season; at UCF (26 points, 11 rebounds), at Liberty (17 points, 12 rebounds) • Played all 40 minutes on 10 occasions 1-10 UM • Back-to-back 30 points games vs. Binghamton (then program-record and career-high 35) and at Brown (30) 1-16 @ALB • Scored 1,000th points of his career at Brown 1-17 @ALB 1-23 SB 2018-19: 1-24 SB • Scored 20+ points in 15 games 1-30 @UH • Led ASUN in spg (2.5)...Ranked 7th in NCAA in total steals (88) 1-31 @HU • Ranked 18th in ASUN in rpg (4.8), 20th in apg (2.1) and 14th in 3FG% (.349) 2-6 UNH • 3/28 vs. Hampton (CIT Quarterfinals): Led NJIT with 22 points • 3/18 vs. Quinnipiac (CIT First Round): Tied Damon Lynn’s NJIT single-game scoring with 34 points (12-20 FG, 2-7 UNH 4-7 3FG, 6-8 FT) 2-18 UMBC • 3/4 at FGCU (ASUN Quarterfinal): Scored personal postseason-best 25 points 2-19 UMBC • 2/23 at Jacksonville: Earned first career double-double with 24 points and 13 rebounds 2-27 @BU • 1/17: Cooks, at the time averaging 18.7 ppg and 2.7 spg, ranked eighth in ppg out of 12 players in D-I that 2-28 @BU average over 17 ppg and two spg, a shortlist led by Duke’s Zion Williamson (21.2 ppg, 2.0 spg) • 12/29 at No. 22 Houston: Scored a game-high 20 points (6-19 FG, 3-10 3FG) with a team-high 4 assists • 12/15 at FDU: Scored a game-high 25 points (7-13 FG) while tying career highs in 3FG (5) and rebounds (7) • 12/4 vs. Army: Scored then a career-high 27 points (8-12, 4-7, 7-12) w/ then career-high 7 rebounds; added 3 assists & 2 steals • 12/1 at UMass Lowell: Tied his then career high with 25 points (10-19 FG); added 6 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 assist • 11/24 at LIU: Game-high-tying 22 points (6-11, 2-5, 8-10); added game-high 3 steals & 5 rebounds in 40 M • 11/20 at Wagner: Registered a game-high-tying 22 points on 7-14 FG; tied career-high with 5 steals in 40 M • 11/17 vs. Cornell: Scored a career-high 25 points on 9-16 FG with team-high 6 rebounds and 4 steals in 40 M • 11/9 at Binghamton: Recorded 12 points w/ career-high-tying 6 boards; game-highs in assists (4) & steals (4) • 11/6 vs. Colgate: Recorded 19 points (one shy of career-high) on 7-12 FG, 4-5 3FG; added 4 rebounds, 3 assists & 1 steal
2017-18: • Ranked 2nd in ASUN in 3FG% in conference play (.519; 27-for-52) and 3rd in ASUN in 3FG% overall (.432) • Ranked 6th in ASUN in spg (1.6)... Finished 114th in Division-I in spg (1.6) and 156th in the nation in steals (48) SEASON/CAREER HIGHS • Also finished 14th in ASUN in ast/TO ratio (1.3), 16th in apg (2.1) and 31st in ppg (8.5)* Season: 24 at Vermont (12/27) * ASUN’s 5th-leading freshman scorer at 8.5 ppg... Led NJIT freshmen in mpg (22.0) Career: 35 vs. Binghamton (11/20) • Led NJIT in scoring twice, in assists nine times and in steals nine times Rebounds: • Last 15 G: Averaging 10.3 ppg (154), shooting 51-for-114 FG (.447), 28-for-58 3FG (.483) • 2/15 at Jacksonville: Sunk game-winning free-throws with :03.8 left to play; finished with 7 pts, 3 reb and 3 ast Season: 12 at Vermont (12/27) • 2/10 vs. Stetson: First career start (played all 40 M), finished w/ career-high/game-high 21 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl Career: 13 at Jacksonville (2/23/19) • 1/13 at FGCU: Led NJIT in scoring (12 points) for first time in career, shot 4-for-5 FG, 3-for-4 3FG in 22 M Assists • 1/11 at Stetson: Notched 5 points with a game-high and career-high tying 5 assists; added 4 reb and 3 steals Season: 3 at Vermont (12/28) • 1/6 vs. USCU: Scored 15 points -- a career-high vs. a D-I foe -- with 3 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal in 22 M Career: 7 at FGCU (2/13/19) • 1/3 at Brown: Set a career-high with 6 rebounds; added 5 points, 3 assists and 2 steals in 20 minutes Blocks • 12/22 vs. Bryn Athyn: Set career-high in blocks (3) and tied career-high in assists (5) while adding 7 pts in 27 M Season: • 11/22 vs. Kean: Notched career-highs in points (17), rebounds (4), assists (5) and steals (5) in 22 minutes Career: 3 at North Alabama (1/27/19) • 11/11 vs. Wagner: Registered 2 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in 19 minutes in his NCAA debut • Scored 2 pts w/ game-highs in assists (5) & steals (4) in lone exhibition game vs. Princeton (DNP vs. St. Peter’s) Steals Season: 5: at Vermont (12/27) HIGH SCHOOL: Career: 5 (3) last: at Vermont (12/27) A 5-foot-9 point guard known for both excellent ball-handling and play-making abilities. ...spent his first two 3-Pointers high school seasons at Norcross HS. ...transferred to Berkmar HS and helped guide the Patriots to a Sweet 16 in Season: 3 at Vermont (12/27) the State Tournament. ...averaged 11.4 points per game and 2.5 assists per game at Berkmar as a junior while Career: 6: vs. Binghamton (11/20) earning a Scholar Athlete Award. ...Played AAU basketball with the Southern Stampede and named co-MVP of Minutes the 2016 Best of the South AAU Tournament after averaging 27 points per game. Season: 50: at Vermont (12/28) PERSONAL: Career: 50: at Vermont (12/28) Zach Cooks.... majoring in marketing
COOKS' CAREER STATISTICS MIN SHOOTING 3-PTS F-THROWS REBOUNDS SCORING YEAR GP GS TOT AVG FG FGA PCT FG FGA PCT FT FTA PCT OFF DEF TOT AVG PF FO A APG TO BLK STL PTS PPG 2017-18 30 1 663 22.1 87 191 .455 41 95 .432 41 56 .732 11 54 65 2.2 34 0 64 2.1 50 5 48 256 8.5 2018-19 35 35 1304 37.3 216 479 .451 73 209 .349 112 153 .732 22 147 169 4.8 68 1 73 2.1 76 2 88 617 17.6 2019-20 30 30 1128 37.6 204 504 .405 53 174 .305 130 167 .778 27 129 156 5.2 51 0 65 2.2 69 3 53 59 19.7 2021-22 4 4 164 41.0 25 66 .379 9 22 .409 16 18 .889 3 24 27 6.8 9 0 5 1.3 7 0 10 75 18.8 Total 99 70 3259 32.9 532 1240 .429 176 500 .352 299 394 .759 63 354 417 4.2 162 1 207 2.1 202 10 199 1539 15.5
#EVERYDAY @NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL DIEGO WILLIS 5 JR | G | 6-3 | 175 | Hermosillo, Mexico | Canaries Basketball Academy
WILLIS' GAME-BY-GAME FG 3FG FT REB 2019-20: Started at Temple (12/19)...drained a three-pointer in the win at Rider (12/23). DATE OPP GS M-A M-A M-A O-D TOT PF TP A TO BK ST M 2019-20: Saw action in all 30 games, making a pair of starts at Army West Point and at Central Florida...season-high 13 points 12-19 @TEM * 0-2 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 8 on 4-of-6 3FG shooting vs. Wagner...also tallied double-digit scoring performance (11 points) vs. Kennesaw State...hit a pair of 12-23 @RID* 1-5 1-5 0-0 0-1 1 0 3 2 0 0 1 22 big shots late in win at Florida Gulf Coast...season-high seven rebounds at Army West Point...nine points, fuor rebounds, four 12-27 @UVM* 1-5 1-5 5-5 2-2 4 0 8 3 1 0 1 28 assists, and three steals vs. Kean...played career-high 32 minutes at Lipscomb. 12-28 @UVM* 1-4 0-3 0-0 0-1 1 4 2 0 0 0 0 20 2018-19: 1-2 @UML • Played in 28 of 35 games as freshman, including one start 1-3 @UML • Knocked down a three-pointer in 3 straight games from 11/11-17 (4.3 ppg) 1-9 UM • 2/13 at FGCU: Made NJIT’s final two field goals with two late three pointers to finish with six points • 1/16 vs. Lipscomb: Drained 3 three-pointers (3-6) for season-high nine points and 1 assist in 18 M 1-10 UM • 12/29 at No. 22 Houston: Scored two points (1-2 FG) and 1 assist in 3 M 1-16 @ALB • 11/14 vs. Kean: Earned first career start and tied for game-high with 5 rebounds; added 3 points, 2 assists and 2 steals in 1-17 @ALB career-high 36 M 1-23 SB • 11/11 vs. Brown: Netted the first FG of his NCAA career; finished with a career-high 7 points (3-6 FG; 1-4 3FG) • 11/9 at Binghamton: Recorded the first point of his NCAA career on a FT; recorded career-high 4 boards in 5 M 1-24 SB 1-30 @UH Prior to NJIT: The 6-foot-3 guard from Hermosillo, Mexico, attended the Canarias Basketball Academy (CBA), where he was 1-31 @HU the starting guard and averaged 18.2ppg, 4.6rpg and shot 44 percent from three-point range in 2017-18. ... The combo guard combined for a double-double 27 points and 11 rebounds, connecting on 7-of-11 from three-point range in a 76-67 win over 2-6 UNH South Kent. ... represented Mexican National Team at the 2018 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers and in 2017, played for the Mexican 2-7 UNH National Team in the World Championship Qualifiers. 2-18 UMBC 2-19 UMBC 2-27 @BU 2-28 @BU
SEASON/CAREER HIGHS Points Season: 8 at Vermont (12/27) Career: 13 vs. Wagner (11/16/20) Rebounds: Season: 4 at Vermont (12/27) Career: 7 at Army (12/4) Assists Season: 3 at Vermont (12/27) Career: 4 vs. Kean (12/22) Blocks Season: Career: 3 at North Alabama (1/27/19) Steals Season: 1 at Rider (12/23) Career: 3 vs. Kean (12/22/20) 3-Pointers Season: 1 (2) at Vermont (12/27) Career: 4 vs. Wagner (11/16) Minutes Season: 28 at Vermont (12/27) Career: 32 at Lipscomb (2/13)
WILLIS' CAREER STATISTICS MIN SHOOTING 3-PTS F-THROWS REBOUNDS SCORING YEAR GP GS TOT AVG FG FGA PCT FG FGA PCT FT FTA PCT OFF DEF TOT AVG PF FO A APG TO BLK STL PTS PPG 2018-19 28 1 272 9.7 19 59 .322 13 42 .310 1 3 .333 4 37 41 1.5 14 0 18 0.6 10 0 6 52 1.9 2019-20 30 2 433 14.4 35 106 .330 23 82 .280 13 20 .650 10 45 55 1.8 39 0 24 0.8 20 4 13 106 3.5 2020-21 4 4 78 19.5 3 16 .188 2 14 .143 5 5 1.000 2 4 6 1.5 9 1 5 1.3 1 0 2 13 3.3 2021-22 CAREER 62 7 783 12.6 57 181 .315 38 138 .275 19 28 .679 16 86 102 1.6 62 1 47 0.8 31 4 21 171 2.8
#EVERYDAY @NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL JASON MURPHY 13 R-FR | F | 6-8 | 240 | Owings Mills, MD | St. Frances Academy
MURPHY'S GAME-BY-GAME FG 3FG FT REB 2020-21: DATE OPP GS M-A M-A M-A O-D TOT PF TP A TO BK ST M Made collegiate debut in a reserve role at Temple (12/19)...grabbed first-career rebound at Rider (12/23). 12-19 @TEM 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 12-23 @RID 0-3 0-0 0-0 1-0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 2019-20: 12-27 @UVM 0-0 0-0 2-2 0-0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 Sat out the season as a redshirt. 12-28 @UVM DNP 1-2 @UML HIGH SCHOOL: 1-3 @UML Began career at Chapelgate Christian Academy where he earned Howard County Player of the Year honors in 1-9 UM 2017...transferred to national power St. Frances Academy in Baltimore for final two seasons where he was 1-10 UM coached by Nick Myles...also played for Team Melo in the EYBL...inducted into the National Honor Society. 1-16 @ALB 1-17 @ALB PERSONAL: 1-23 SB Jason Murphy...intends to major in communications and media. 1-24 SB 1-30 @UH 1-31 @HU 2-6 UNH 2-7 UNH 2-18 UMBC 2-19 UMBC 2-27 @BU 2-28 @BU
SEASON/CAREER HIGHS Points Season: 2 at Vermont (12/27) Career: 2 at Vermont (12/27) Rebounds Season: 1 at Rider (12/23) Career: 1 at Rider (12/23) Assists Season: Career: Blocks Season: Career: Steals Season: 1 at Rider (12/23) Career: 1 at Rider (12/23) 3-Pointers Season: Career: Minutes Season: 4 at Rider (12/23) Career: 4 at Rider (12/23)
MURPHY’S CAREER STATISTICS MIN SHOOTING 3-PTS F-THROWS REBOUNDS SCORING YEAR GP GS TOT AVG FG FGA PCT FG FGA PCT FT FTA PCT OFF DEF TOT AVG PF FO A APG TO BLK STL PTS PPG 2020-21 3 0 5 1.7 0 3 .000 0 0 .000 2 2 1.000 1 0 1 0.3 0 0 0 0.0 1 0 1 2 0.7 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 CAREER 3 0 5 1.7 0 3 .000 0 0 .000 2 2 1.000 1 0 1 0.3 0 0 0 0.0 1 0 1 2 0.7
#EVERYDAY @NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL SOULEYMANE DIAKITE 21 SO | F | 6-9 | 210 | Bamako, Mali | St. Benedict's (NJ)
/SOO-lee-mahn dee-ah-KEY-tay/ DIAKITE'S GAME-BY-GAME FG 3FG FT REB 2020-21: DATE OPP GS M-A M-A M-A O-D TOT PF TP A TO BK ST M Started at Temple (12/19), scoring eight points and grabbing four rebounds in 32 minutes of action...scored eight points and was 12-19 @TEM * 4-8 0-0 0-1 1-5 6 4 8 2 3 0 0 32 4-of-5 from the FT line in the win at Rider (12/23). 12-23 @RID* 2-4 0-0 4-5 1-4 5 3 8 2 0 1 2 30 12-27 @UVM* 2-7 0-0 0-0 2-4 6 2 4 2 4 0 0 29 2019-20: Breakout sophomore season after serving in a backup role as a freshman...started all 30 games, finishing tops on the team and 12-28 @UVM* 8-10 0-0 4-6 1-11 12 1 20 0 3 1 4 48 third in the ASUN Conference in both rebounding (8.5 rpg) and blocks (2.0 bpg)...scored eight points and grabbed nine boards 1-2 @UML in season-opener at Colgate, his first-career start...five double-doubles on the season, including three-straight to close out 1-3 @UML non-conference play...best numbers of the season came in a 13-point, 15-rebound performance against ASUN Conference Reg- ular Season co-champion, North Florida...career-high six blocks at Uconn and at Kennesaw State....eight double-digit rebound 1-9 UM games, including career-high 18 vs. Kean...saw 33+ minutes of action 12 times. 1-10 UM 1-16 @ALB 2018-19: 1-17 @ALB • Played in 17 of 35 games as freshman • Finished with .526 FG percentage (10-19), .667 FT percentage (8-12) and 10 blocks 1-23 SB • 3/28 vs. Hampton (CIT Quarterfinals): Totaled 4 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks in 19 M 1-24 SB • 3/18 vs. Quinnipiac (CIT First Round): Tied career-high 9 rebounds (led team) and set career-high 22 M 1-30 @UH • 12/29 at No. 22 Houston: Scored for first time in his last 5 G, recording 2 points(1-2 FG) and 3 rebounds in 3 M • 11/9 at Binghamton: Just missed double-double w/ 11* points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks in 20 M (*firsts in NCAA) 1-31 @HU 2-6 UNH Prior to NJIT: A 2-7 UNH highly skilled and talented player, Diakite will add height to the Highlanders squad as a solid defensive player and strong 2-18 UMBC rebounder. ...the 6-foot-9 native of Bamako, Mali, played three seasons at Canterbury High School in Gran Canaria, Spain. ... The Academy, considered the top prep school in Europe both academically and athletically, has sent over 80 players to Division-I 2-19 UMBC schools in recent years. ...during his senior campaign, Diakite attended St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, where the team went 2-27 @BU 28-2 overall and finished ranked in the Top 50 by USA Today Sports. ... as a junior at the Canterbury School, he averaged a 2-28 @BU double-double – 17.6ppg and 11.2rpg.
Personal: Souleymane Diakite ... speaks three languages (English, French and Spanish) and speaks two dialects (Bambava and Sonrhai) ... he intends to study engineering or mathematics at NJIT.
SEASON/CAREER HIGHS Points Season: 20 at Vermont (12/28) Career: 20 at Vermont (12/28) Rebounds Season: 12 at Vermont (12/28) Career: 18: vs. Kean (12/22/20) Assists Season: 2 (3) last): at Vermont (12/27) Career: 4 (4) last: vs. Liberty (1/4/20) Blocks Season: 1 (2) last: at Vermont (12/28) Career: 6: at UConn (12/29/19) Steals Season: 4: at Vermont (12/28) Career: 4: at Vermont (12/28) 3-Pointers Season: Career: Minutes Season: 48 at Vermont (12/28) Career: 48 at Vermont (12/28)
DIAKITE'S CAREER STATISTICS MIN SHOOTING 3-PTS F-THROWS REBOUNDS SCORING YEAR GP GS TOT AVG FG FGA PCT FG FGA PCT FT FTA PCT OFF DEF TOT AVG PF FO A APG TO BLK STL PTS PPG 2018-19 16 0 135 8.4 10 19 .526 0 0 .000 8 12 .667 14 32 46 2.9 25 1 6 0.4 5 10 3 28 1.8 2019-20 30 30 918 30.6 98 188 .521 0 0 .000 37 67 .552 84 170 254 8.5 88 2 54 1.8 55 59 17 233 7.8 2020-21 4 4 139 34.8 16 29 .552 0 0 .000 8 12 .667 5 24 29 7.3 10 0 6 1.5 10 2 6 40 10.0 2021-22 CAREER 50 34 1192 23.8 124 236 .525 0 0 .000 53 91 .582 103 226 329 6.6 123 3 66 1.3 70 71 26 301 6.0
#EVERYDAY @NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL ANTWUAN BUTLER 23 JR | G | 6-0 | 205 | Philadelphia, PA | Cardinal O’Hara (Austin Peay)
BUTLER’S GAME-BY-GAME FG 3FG FT REB 2020-21: DATE OPP GS M-A M-A M-A O-D TOT PF TP A TO BK ST M Made NJIT debut at Temple (12/19) and came off the bench to log 31 minutes, stuffing the stat sheet with 12-19 @TEM 2-9 0-3 3-4 1-4 5 3 7 6 1 0 1 31 seven points, six assists, and five rebounds...scored nine points and dished out three assists in the win at Rider 12-23 @RID* 3-7 1-4 2-2 0-4 4 2 9 3 1 1 2 33 (12/23). 12-27 @UVM* 2-5 0-1 1-2 0-1 1 4 5 1 0 0 1 22 12-28 @UVM* 0-3 0-1 1-2 1-5 6 5 1 3 4 0 1 38 PRIOR TO NJIT: 1-2 @UML Played two seasons at Austin Peay, starting 37 games over his freshman and sophomore campaign...helped lead 1-3 @UML the Governors to 22 wins in 2018-19 and 21 victories in 2019-20...averaged more than 27 minutes per game as 1-9 UM a sophomore, scoring 6.4 points per game and dishing out 3.3 assists per game...scored a career-high 14 points 1-10 UM at West Virginia on December 12, 2019...tallied career-best nine assists vs. McKendree on December 19, 2019. 1-16 @ALB 1-17 @ALB HIGH SCHOOL: 1-23 SB Helped lead Cardinal O’Hara to the Philadelphia Catholic League quarterfinals as a senior… was 1,000-point 1-24 SB scorer at Delaware Valley in his first three seasons, before following head coach Jason Harrigan to Cardinal 1-30 @UH O’Hara when Del-Val closed its doors… was a captain at Del-Val and led a team to both a city championship and 1-31 @HU public league championship, netting first-team all-league honors in the process. 2-6 UNH 2-7 UNH 2-18 UMBC 2-19 UMBC 2-27 @BU 2-28 @BU
SEASON/CAREER HIGHS Points Season: 9 at Rider (12/23) Career: 14 at West Virginia (12/12/19)^ Rebounds Season: 6 at Vermont (12/28) Career: 7 at Tulsa (11/16/19)^ Assists Season: 6 at Temple (12/19) Career: 9 vs. McKendree (12/17/19)^ Blocks Season: 1 at Rider (12/23) Career: 1 at Rider (12/23) Steals Season: 2 at Rider (12/23) Career: 5 at E. Kentucky (2/6/19)^ 3-Pointers Season: 1 at Rider (12/23) Career: 3 at Belmont (2/8/20) Minutes Season: 33 at Rider (12/23) Career: 38 vs. North Florida (12/7/19)^ ^ set during two-year career at Austin Peay BUTLER’S CAREER STATISTICS (NJIT) MIN SHOOTING 3-PTS F-THROWS REBOUNDS SCORING YEAR GP GS TOT AVG FG FGA PCT FG FGA PCT FT FTA PCT OFF DEF TOT AVG PF FO A APG TO BLK STL PTS PPG Played two seasons at Austin Peay before transferring to NJIT 2020-21 4 3 117 29.3 7 24 .292 1 9 .111 7 10 .700 2 14 16 4.0 14 1 13 3.3 6 1 5 22 5.5 2021-22 2022-23 CAREER 4 3 117 29.3 7 24 .292 1 9 .111 7 10 .700 2 14 16 4.0 14 1 13 3.3 6 1 5 22 5.5
#EVERYDAY @NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL MEKHI GRAY 24 FR | G | 6-4 | 180 | Montrose, NY | Putnam Science Academy (CT)
GRAY’S GAME-BY-GAME FG 3FG FT REB 2020-21: DATE OPP GS M-A M-A M-A O-D TOT PF TP A TO BK ST M Made collegiate debut at Temple (12/19), coming off the bench and playing eight minutes...scored first five 12-19 @TEM 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 8 points of his career in the win at Rider (12/23). 12-23 @RID 1-1 0-0 3-4 1-0 1 1 5 0 0 0 0 6 12-27 @UVM 0-1 0-0 0-0 2-0 2 3 0 1 0 0 0 8 HIGH SCHOOL: 12-28 @UVM 1-2 0-0 0-0 0-2 2 0 2 0 1 0 0 9 Attended Henry Hudson High School for three years before spending a year each at South Kent and national 1-2 @UML power Putnam Science Academy (CT) ...helped lead PSA to Co-National Championship in final season...was 1-3 @UML one of nine Division I commits on Head Coach Tom Espinoza’s PSA squad in 2019-20...played AAU for the PSA 1-9 UM Cardinals and was coached by Terrance “Munch” Williams. 1-10 UM 1-16 @ALB 1-17 @ALB 1-23 SB 1-24 SB 1-30 @UH 1-31 @HU 2-6 UNH 2-7 UNH 2-18 UMBC 2-19 UMBC 2-27 @BU 2-28 @BU
SEASON/CAREER HIGHS Points Season: 5 at Rider (12/23) Career: 5 at Rider (12/23) Rebounds: Season: 2 at Vermont (12/28) Career: 2 at Vermont (12/28) Assists Season: Career: Blocks Season: Career: Steals Season: Career: 3-Pointers Season: Career: Minutes Season: 9 at Vermont (12/28) Career: 9 at Vermont (12/28)
GRAY’S CAREER STATISTICS MIN SHOOTING 3-PTS F-THROWS REBOUNDS SCORING YEAR GP GS TOT AVG FG FGA PCT FG FGA PCT FT FTA PCT OFF DEF TOT AVG PF FO A APG TO BLK STL PTS PPG 2020-21 4 0 31 7.8 2 5 .400 0 0 .000 3 4 .750 3 3 6 1.5 4 0 1 0.3 2 0 0 7 1.8 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 CAREER 4 0 31 7.8 2 5 .400 0 0 .000 3 4 .750 3 3 6 1.5 4 0 1 0.3 2 0 0 7 1.8
#EVERYDAY @NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL XAVIER MAYO 32 SO | F | 6-7 | 230 | Beacon, NY | The Hill School (PA)
MAYO’S GAME-BY-GAME FG 3FG FT REB 2019-20: DATE OPP GS M-A M-A M-A O-D TOT PF TP A TO BK ST M Saw action in 28 of 30 games, all in a reserve role...scored a career-high eight points in a career-best 19 min- 12-19 @TEM DNP utes against Kennesaw State (1/19)...grabbed six boards vs. North Alabama. 12-23 @RID DNP 12-27 @UVM DNP HIGH SCHOOL: 12-28 @UVM DNP Coached by Seth Eilberg at The Hill School in Pottstown, PA, where he earned All-MAPL honors and helped lead 1-2 @UML his team to a PAISAA state championship....also played AAU basketball for the Albany Ciy Rocks. 1-3 @UML 1-9 UM PERSONAL: 1-10 UM Xavier Mayo. ... intends to major in law, technology & culture 1-16 @ALB 1-17 @ALB 1-23 SB 1-24 SB 1-30 @UH 1-31 @HU 2-6 UNH 2-7 UNH 2-18 UMBC 2-19 UMBC 2-27 @BU 2-28 @BU
SEASON/CAREER HIGHS Points Season: Career: 8 vs. Kennesaw (1/18) Rebounds Season: Career: 6: vs. North Alabama (1/30) Assists Season: Career: 2: at Jacksonville (1/9) Blocks Season: Career: 2: at Lipscomb (2/13) Steals Season: Career: 2 vs. UML (12/11) 3-Pointers Season: Career: Minutes Season: Career: 19: vs. Kennesaw St. (1/18)
MAYO’S CAREER STATISTICS MIN SHOOTING 3-PTS F-THROWS REBOUNDS SCORING YEAR GP GS TOT AVG FG FGA PCT FG FGA PCT FT FTA PCT OFF DEF TOT AVG PF FO A APG TO BLK STL PTS PPG 2019-20 28 0 228 8.1 16 26 .615 0 0 .000 16 21 .762 28 22 50 1.8 55 2 10 0.4 9 6 6 48 1.7 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 CAREER 28 0 228 8.1 16 26 .615 0 0 .000 16 21 .762 28 22 50 1.8 55 2 10 0.4 9 6 6 48 1.7
#EVERYDAY @NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL KJELL DE GRAAF 33 R-SO | F | 6-10 | 175 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | Canaries Basketball Academy
/KELL duh-GRAF/ DE GRAAF'S GAME-BY-GAME FG 3FG FT REB 2020-21: DATE OPP GS M-A M-A M-A O-D TOT PF TP A TO BK ST M Played 12 minutes in a reserve role at Temple (12/19)....drained a three-pointer in the win at Rider (12/23). 12-19 @TEM 0-2 0-2 0-0 0-0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 12 12-23 @RID 1-1 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 4 3 0 0 0 0 6 2019-20: 12-27 @UVM 1-2 0-1 0-0 1-2 3 1 2 0 1 2 0 7 Played in first nine games before suffering a season-ending knee injury during practice in early December..tal- 12-28 @UVM 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 lied 11 points at Army to score 10+ in back-to-back games for first time in career. 3-of-7 from long range...made 1-2 @UML first start of season at Rutgers and set career-highs in points (13), rebounds (five) and minutes (38)...scored all 1-3 @UML six of his points at Cornell at the free throw line (6-for-6)...came off the bench to play 21 minutes at Providence. 1-9 UM 1-10 UM 2018-19: 1-16 @ALB • Appeared in 26 of 35 games as freshman, including two starts 1-17 @ALB • 3/28 vs. Hampton (CIT Quarterfinals): Started second consecutive game and tied career-high 5 rebounds in 20 1-23 SB M 1-24 SB • 3/18 vs. Quinnipiac (CIT First Round): Earned first career start and played career-high 26 minutes; 8 points (2-4 1-30 @UH 3FG, 2-2 FT) 1-31 @HU • 2/25 at Lipscomb: Career-high 9 points on 3-4 three pointers in 24 M 2-6 UNH • 1/24 at Stetson: Hit 2-3 three pointers and one free throw for 7 points 2-7 UNH • 1/21 at UNF: Totaled 6 points (1-2 3FG, 3-4 FT) and career-high 5 rebounds 2-18 UMBC • 1/16 vs. Lipscomb: Knocked down a three pointer and snatched 2 rebounds 2-19 UMBC • 11/17 vs. Cornell: Scored 5 pts (2-3 FG, 1-1 3FG) with first NCAA three-pointer; added 3 rebounds 2-27 @BU • 11/14 vs. Kean: Drained his first career NCAA field goal; finished with 2 points, 4 rebounds in 11 M 2-28 @BU
HIGH SCHOOL: Played last two seasons for the Canarias Basketball Academy in Gran Canaria, Spain... The Academy, considered the top prep school in Europe both academically and athletically, has sent over 80 players to Division-I schools in recent years... averaged 14.5 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting 45-percent from three-point territory for the Elite A Team... spent his first two years of high school at The Thornbecke Voortgezet Ondrewijsin (Holland)... played on the Netherlands Junior National Team since he was 14 years old and was a member of the 14u European Championship team in 2013.
PERSONAL: Kjell De Graaf... intends to study either chemical engineering or biomedical engineering.
SEASON/CAREER HIGHS Points Season: 3 at Rider (12/23) Career: 13 at Rutgers (11/26/20) Rebounds Season: 3 at Vermont (12/27) Career: 5 at Rutgers (11/26/2-) Assists Season: Career: 1 (3) last: at UCF (12/7/20) Blocks Season: 2 at Vermont (12/27) Career: 2 at Vermont (12/27) Steals Season: Career: 1 (6); last: at UCF (12/7/20) 3-Pointers Season: 1 at Rider (12/23) Career: 3 (2) last: at Army (12/4/19) Minutes Season: 12 at Temple (12/19) Career: 38 at Rutgers (11/26/20)
DE GRAAF'S CAREER STATISTICS MIN SHOOTING 3-PTS F-THROWS REBOUNDS SCORING YEAR GP GS TOT AVG FG FGA PCT FG FGA PCT FT FTA PCT OFF DEF TOT AVG PF FO A APG TO BLK STL PTS PPG 2018-19 26 2 243 9.3 16 49 .327 12 37 .324 8 11 .727 13 27 40 1.5 27 0 14 0.5 10 6 3 52 2.0 2019-20 9 1 151 16.8 13 36 .361 7 21 .333 12 14 .857 4 10 14 1.6 16 0 2 0.2 7 2 4 45 5.0 2020-21 4 0 31 7.8 2 6 .333 1 4 .250 0 0 .000 1 2 3 0.8 7 0 0 0.0 1 2 0 5 1.3 2021-22 CAREER 39 3 425 10.9 31 91 .341 20 62 .323 20 25 .800 18 39 57 1.5 50 0 16 0.4 18 10 7 102 2.6
#EVERYDAY @NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL DA’MIR FAISON 35 R-FR | F | 6-7 | 200| Philadelphia, PA | Hazleton Area
/dah-meer/ FAISON’S GAME-BY-GAME FG 3FG FT REB 2020-21 DATE OPP GS M-A M-A M-A O-D TOT PF TP A TO BK ST M Made collegiate debut in a starting role at Temple (12/19) where he scored the first two points of his career. 12-19 @TEM* 1-3 0-0 0-0 2-1 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 9 12-23 @RID 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0+ 2019-20: 12-27 @UVM DNP Redshirted after suffering knee injury during preseason. 12-28 @UVM DNP 1-2 @UML HIGH SCHOOL: 1-3 @UML Wyoming Valley Conference MVP, three-time District Champion and an All-State honoree at Hazleton Area HS... 1-9 UM played his AAU basketball for the NJ Playaz. 1-10 UM 1-16 @ALB PERSONAL: 1-17 @ALB Da’mir Faison. ... intends to major in business. 1-23 SB 1-24 SB 1-30 @UH 1-31 @HU 2-6 UNH 2-7 UNH 2-18 UMBC 2-19 UMBC 2-27 @BU 2-28 @BU
SEASON/CAREER HIGHS Points Season: 2 at Temple (12/19) Career: 2 at Temple (12/19) Rebounds Season: 3 at Temple (12/19) Career: 3 at Temple (12/19) Assists Season: Career: Blocks Season: Career: Steals Season: Career: 3-Pointers Season: Career: Minutes Season: 9 at Temple (12/19) Career: 9 at Temple (12/19)
FAISON'S CAREER STATISTICS MIN SHOOTING 3-PTS F-THROWS REBOUNDS SCORING YEAR GP GS TOT AVG FG FGA PCT FG FGA PCT FT FTA PCT OFF DEF TOT AVG PF FO A APG TO BLK STL PTS PPG 2020-21 2 1 9 4.5 1 3 .333 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 2 1 3 1.5 2 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 2 1.0 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 CAREER 2 1 9 4.5 1 3 .333 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 2 1 3 1.5 2 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 2 1.0
#EVERYDAY @NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL 2020-21 Cumulative TEAM STATS
2020-2021 New Jersey Institute of Technology Men's Basketball Overall Statistics (as of Dec 28, 2020)
Overall Record: 2-2 Conf: 1-1 Home: 0-0 Away: 2-2 Neutral: 0-0
FG 3PT FT Rebounds # Player GP-GS MIN AVG FG-FGA FG% 3FG-FGA 3FG% FT-FTA FT% OFF DEF TOT AVG PF DQ A TO BLK STL PTS AVG 04 Cooks, Zach 4-4 164 41.0 25-66 .379 9-22 .409 16-18 .889 3 24 27 6.8 9 0 5 7 0 10 75 18.8 01 O'Hearn, Dylan 4-0 115 28.8 24-39 .615 7-16 .438 11-13 .846 1 11 12 3.0 9 0 5 8 1 2 66 16.5 02 Brinson, San Antonio 4-4 111 27.8 17-39 .436 4-11 .364 4-11 .364 6 7 13 3.3 9 0 2 4 0 3 42 10.5 21 Diakite, Souleymane 4-4 139 34.8 16-29 .552 0-0 .000 8-12 .667 5 24 29 7.3 10 0 6 10 2 6 40 10.0 03 Coleman, Miles 3-0 50 16.7 7-14 .500 3-5 .600 9-13 .692 3 3 6 2.0 6 0 2 2 0 0 26 8.7 23 Butler, Antwuan 4-3 117 29.3 7-24 .292 1-9 .111 7-10 .700 2 14 16 4.0 14 1 13 6 1 5 22 5.5 05 Willis, Diego 4-4 78 19.5 3-16 .188 2-14 .143 5-5 1.000 2 4 6 1.5 9 1 5 1 0 2 13 3.3 24 Gray, Mekhi 4-0 31 7.8 2-5 .400 0-0 .000 3-4 .750 3 3 6 1.5 4 0 1 2 0 0 7 1.8 33 de Graaf, Kjell 4-0 31 7.8 2-6 .333 1-4 .250 0-0 .000 1 2 3 0.8 7 0 0 1 2 0 5 1.3 35 Faison, Da'mir 2-1 9 4.5 1-3 .333 0-0 .000 0-0 .000 2 1 3 1.5 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 1.0 13 Murphy, Jason 3-0 5 1.7 0-3 .000 0-0 .000 2-2 1.000 1 0 1 0.3 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 0.7 Total 4 850 212.5 104-244 .426 27-81 .333 65-88 .739 37 97 134 33.5 79 2 39 44 6 29 300 75.00 Opponents 850 212.5 112-251 .446 29-80 .363 57-76 .750 52 114 166 41.5 86 2 69 56 14 15 310 77.50
Team Statistics NJIT OPP Conf Date Opponent W/L Score Att. SCORING 300 310 12/19/20 at Temple L 60-72 0 Points Per Game 75.0 77.5 12/23/20 at Rider W 81-66 0 Scoring Margin -2.5 – * 12/27/20 at Vermont L 78-92 0 FIELD GOALS-ATT 104-244 112-251 * 12/28/20 at Vermont W (2 OT) 81-80 0 Field Goal Pct .426 .446 3 POINT FG-ATT 27-81 29-80 * = Conference game 3PT FG Pct .333 .363 3PT Made Per Game 6.8 7.3 FREE THROWS-ATT 65-88 57-76 FT Pct .739 .750 FT Made Per Game 16.3 14.3 REBOUNDS 134 166 Rebounds Per Game 33.5 41.5 Rebounds Margin -8.0 – ASSISTS 39 69 Assists Per Game 9.8 17.3 TURNOVERS 44 56 Turnovers Per Game 11.0 14.0 Turnovers Margin 3.0 – Assist/Turnover Ratio 0.9 1.2 STEALS 29 15 Steals Per Game 7.3 3.8 BLOCKS 6 14 Blocks Per Game 1.5 3.5 ATTENDANCE 0 0 Dates/Avg Per Date 0-0 4-0 Neutral Site #/Avg – 0-0
Score by Periods 1st 2nd OT OT2 Total NJIT 123 160 8 9 300 Opponents 154 140 8 8 310
#EVERYDAY @NJITHOOPS 2020-21 GAME NOTES GAME 5/6: UMASS LOWELL 2020-21 NJIT HIGHLANDERS HEAD SHOT CHART
HEAD COACH ASSISTANT COACH ASSISTANT COACH ASSISTANT COACH DIR, BASKETBALL OPS BRIAN KENNEDY JEFF RAFFERTY KIM WAITERS JOE GUTOWSKI DANNY MANUEL
ADETOKUNBO DYLAN SAN ANTONIO MILES 0 BAKARE 1 O’HEARN 2 BRINSON 3 COLEMAN
ZACH DIEGO JASON SOULEYMANE ANTWUAN 4 COOKS 5 WILLIS 13 MURPHY 21 DIAKITE 23 BUTLER
MEKHI XAVIER KJELL DA’MIR 24 GRAY 32 MAYO 33 DE GRAAF 35 FAISON
#EVERYDAY