Bendary, Tarke, turnovers help NJIT beat UMass Lowell 78-65

Dec 3, 2017, 09:29 pm

NEWARK, N.J. -- Mohamed Bendary matched a career high, scoring 16 points off the bench, Anthony Tarke added 18 and NJIT forced 23 turnovers to defeat UMass Lowell 78-65 on Sunday.

Tarke had three of the 14 Highlander steals and NJIT (5-3) scored 26 points off the turnovers. UMass Lowell (5-3) entered averaging 13 turnovers a game, but made 14 in the second half alone.

Zach Cooks and Abdul Lewis chipped in 10 points each for the Highlanders, who have won five straight at home.

Ryan Jones led the River Hawks with 17 points while Rinaldo Perry and Obadiah Noel scored 13 each. Every UMass Lowell player but Connor Bennett committed turnovers, with Matt Harris tagged for six. The River Hawks were without leading scorer Jahad Thomas out with an ankle injury.

NJIT faces Rutgers of the Big Ten, which started the season 6-0, on Wednesday. "Any time you play another team from Jersey, it's a lot of fun," Bendary said after the game.