The struggling NJIT Highlanders (9-16, 1-8 ASUN) fell to the Lipscomb Bisons (15-11, 7-2 ASUN) 87-63 Saturday night in Allen Arena, as the Bisons earned their second win in seven days over the last-place team in the ASUN.
Though the first half was a similar affair to last Saturday’s rock fight — Lipscomb’s lowest-scoring win of the year — Nathan Moran’s five second-half three pointers helped the Bisons open up a big lead in the last 20 minutes.
The Bisons shot 10-of-16 from three in the second half, and 61.5% from the field, scoring 53 points in the half and stretching the lead to 26 late in the game.
“Shots fell for us a little more readily,” coach Casey Alexander said on the difference between tonight’s contest and last week’s road win. “Nathan did a lot of that on his own, but really there wasn’t anything strategic. We were able to put a run together, and I think that that lifted the burden a little bit, and we were able to play with more confidence.”
The Highlanders were without leading scorer Damon Lynn for the fourth straight game since he ended his season (and college career) by tearing his right Achilles against FGCU on Jan. 21. The senior guard was averaging 20.6 points per contest this season and is NJIT’s all-time leader in points scored.
Without Lynn, NJIT struggled to find offense of any kind and resorted to force-feeding two-time ASUN Newcomer of the Week Abdul Lewis all over the floor. The sophomore forward, averaging 18 points and 14 rebounds in the previous five games, chipped in a game-high 21 points on efficient 7-of-12 shooting. The 6-foot-9 Lewis even flashed a smooth jumper to go along with a strong post game, canning both three-pointers that he attempted as well as a long two-pointer from the left wing.
“He’s gonna put 20 on most people because they’re throwing him the ball so often. And he’s really good down there,” Alexander said on defending Lewis. “I thought Rob (Marberry) defended him pretty well. Some of those points today were facing the basket. He makes a couple of threes; he makes one just inside the line, so we’ve just got to give him credit.”
Moran finished with 18 points, only attempting a single two-pointer. Garrison Mathews also contributed 18 along with eight rebounds. Josh Williams rounded out the Bisons in double figures with 14. Center Rob Marberry was given fits by Abdul Lewis in the post but still managed to add eight points and eight rebounds, plus enough defensive presence to prevent Lewis from taking over the game.
Highlanders’ guard Donovan Greer got his first minutes of the season after missing 25 games with an ankle injury. The sophomore transfer from San Jacinto College-Central scored 11 points on five shots. Anthony Tarke finished with 15 points but turned the ball over five times.
Next up for the suddenly second-place Bisons is a showdown with the conference favorite FGCU Eagles in Ft. Meyers, Fla. on Feb. 9.
Photo courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics