Wildcats Drop Close Game to NJIT, 64-59

Saturday, January 18

Newark, N.J.

3 PM

University of New Hampshire

4-16,2-3America East

New Jersey Institute of Technology

4-15,1-3America East

New Hampshire

NJIT

1/18/2025 5:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Badru Records Career-High 16 Points, Third Double-Double of the Season

NEWARK, N.J.  – The University of New Hampshire men's basketball team fell to NJIT, 64-59 Saturday evening from Joel & Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center (WEC).

Freshman guard Khalil Badru (New Britain, Conn.) scored his career-high of 16 points with 10 rebounds for the Wildcats while junior guard Sami Pissis (Paris, France) added 13 points. Junior guard Jawarie Hamelin (Westerly, R.I.) recorded 10 points for the second consecutive game.

The Wildcats fall to 4-16 (2-3 AE). 

Score:  NJIT 64, UNH 59
Records:  UNH (4-16, 2-3 AE), NJIT (4-15, 1-3 AE)
Location: Newark, N.J. (Joel & Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center (WEC))
Date: Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025

FIRST HALF

A back-and-forth first half began with a Badru basket to put UNH up 2-0. The score tied at two, four, six, and eight before NJIT took the game's first two-possession lead (13-9).
Points from Pissis, Badru, and graduate student forward/center Emmanuel Okpomo (Delta State, Nigeria) put the Wildcats back up 15-13 with 8:41 to go in the half.
NJIT took a 22-18 lead with just under four minutes remaining before the Wildcats went on a 10-0 run with baskets from "and-one" baskets from Pissis and Badru. Pissis also drilled a three-pointer (28-22).
The Highlanders battled back and took a 30-38 lead.

SECOND HALF

Four Hamelin points and two from Badru and Okpomo made up the first five minutes of the second half. NJIT hung close as the Wildcats led 36-34.
The Highlanders responded by going on a 10-2 run to lead the 'Cats 44-38 halfway through the second half. They extended that lead to nine with 8:21 remaining before junior guard Anthony McComb III (Dayton, Ohio) and Poser combined for eight straight points to set Pissis up with a lead-changing three-pointer.
NJIT shot ahead and went up by four points with less than a minute left. Sophomore forward Davide Poser (Veneto, Italy) knocked down a three-pointer with 24 seconds to go but the Wildcats could not complete the comeback (64-59).

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