Zach Cooks free throws lift NJIT past Jacksonville, 71-68

Feb 16, 2018, 04:00 am

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Freshman Zach Cooks hit two free throws with four seconds left to give NJIT a 71-69 win over Jacksonville in an Atlantic Sun Conference battle Thursday night.

Devin Harris got Jacksonville even at 69-69 with 9.5 seconds left. Jace Hogan's 3-pointer at the buzzer to win it for Jacksonville rimmed out.

The game was a back-and-forth affair from the opening tip. Jacksonville opened the game on an 8-0 run, forcing NJIT to call a time out less than three minutes in. But the Highlanders answered with a 7-0 run of their own.

Anthony Tarke had 18 points and Diandre Wilson added 17 to lead NJIT (13-14, 6-6), which shot 20 of 50 (40 percent) from the field, including 7 of 19 from distance.

Hogan scored 20 points to reach double-figure scoring for the 19th time in 23 games played for the Dolphins (12-17, 6-6). Harris finished with 19 points and Cody Helgeland and Tanner Rubio each added 11.