Jones leads balanced NJIT into A Sun quarterfinals 76-67

Feb 23, 2018, 03:34 am

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Freshman Shawndale Jones scored 13 points, four players reached double figures and NJIT defeated South Carolina Upstate 76-67 Thursday night to clinch fourth place in the Atlantic Sun Conference and host the school's first ever quarterfinal playoff game next week.

The win advances NJIT (14-15, 7-7) into a quarterfinal against North Florida (13-8, 7-7), Monday. North Florida fell to Jacksonville in a battle for third place. USC Upstate meets A-Sun champion Florida Gulf Coast in the quarterfinals.

Jones was 5 of 9 from the floor with six rebounds and three steals for the Highlanders. Diandre Wilson, Zach Cooks and Donovan Greer each scored 11 points as NJIT shot 44 percent (28 of 63) and made 10 of 22 from behind the 3-point arc. Cooks and Greer made three 3-pointers each. Leading scorer Anthony Tarke (15.8 ppg) did not play.

Deion Holmes led USC Upstate (7-24, 2-12) with 15 points, Mike Cunningham and Ramel Thompkins added 13 each.

NJIT had 18 assists on 28 baskets and won the rebound battle 40-32.