Cooks lifts NJIT to 71-60 road win over Wagner
NEW YORK -- Zach Cooks scored 22 points with five steals and NJIT pulled away in the second half to beat Wagner 71-60 on Tuesday night.
The Highlanders (5-1) shot just 36 percent in the first half and trailed 31-25. But the second half was another story. NJIT made 11 of 21 shots (52 percent), while holding the Seahawks to 27-percent shooting (8 of 30). Wagner, the defending Northeast Conference champions, won 16 of 17 games on its home floor last season.
Wagner (2-2) upped its lead to 43-33 on a 3-pointer by Romone Saunders with 13:13 left to play, but Diandre Wilson nailed a 3 to ignite a 16-2 run and NJIT grabbed a 49-45 lead with 8:05 remaining and never trailed again.
Wilson finished with 17 points and five boards, while Shyquan Gibbs made 9 of 11 free throws and scored 13 for NJIT.
Saunders topped the Seahawks with 22 points and eight rebounds, but he made just 6 of 18 shots as Wagner shot 30 percent from the floor (17 of 57). Reserve Jeff Coulanges added his first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Ray Perone
- Paul Faia
- Mikerlange Fleury
2023-24 America East Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Vermont | 15-1 | - | 28-7 |
UMass Lowell | 11-5 | 4 | 22-10 |
Bryant | 11-5 | 4 | 20-13 |
New Hampshire | 7-9 | 8 | 16-15 |
Binghamton | 7-9 | 8 | 15-15 |
Maine | 7-9 | 8 | 15-17 |
UMBC | 6-10 | 9 | 11-21 |
UAlbany | 5-11 | 10 | 13-19 |
NJIT | 3-13 | 12 | 7-21 |
2023-24 Northeast Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Central Connecticut | 13-3 | - | 20-11 |
Merrimack | 13-3 | - | 21-12 |
Sacred Heart | 10-6 | 3 | 16-16 |
Fairleigh Dickinson | 9-7 | 4 | 15-17 |
Le Moyne | 9-7 | 4 | 15-17 |
Wagner | 7-9 | 6 | 17-16 |
Long Island University | 6-10 | 7 | 7-22 |
St. Francis (PA) | 3-13 | 10 | 8-22 |
Stonehill | 2-14 | 11 | 4-27 |