Lewis scores 24 with 18 boards; NJIT beats N. Florida 76-72

Jan 22, 2019, 02:24 am

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Abdul Lewis had 24 points and 18 rebounds, Zach Cooks added 18 points, including four 3-pointers, and NJIT scored 14 of the last 20 points to beat North Florida 76-72 on Monday night.

Lewis had 19 points and a program-record 21 rebounds in a 77-74 win over Jacksonville on Saturday.

Diandre Wilson finished with 17 points, seven assists and three steals for NJIT (15-5, 3-2 Atlantic Sun). The Highlanders are off to their best start since moving to Division I in 2006.

Lewis scored NJIT's first six points in an 8-2 run that gave the Highlanders a two-point lead when Shawndale Jones made a layup with 54 seconds left. Ivan Gandia-Rosa's layup tied it 13 seconds later but Cooks answered with a 3 and, after Gandia-Rosa missed a potential tying 3, Wilson made 1 of 2 free throws with 10 seconds remaining to make it 74-70. Carter Hendricksen hit the first two of three foul shots but Cooks grabbed the rebound of the third and made two from the stripe to seal it.

Gandia-Rosa led North Florida (9-12, 3-3) with 18 points and six assists. Wajid Aminu had 15 points and 12 rebounds while Noah Horchler scored 13 with 12 boards.