NEWARK, N.J. – The university is nationally, if not internationally, known and respected for its academics and research. Mention NJIT and you are conversing about one of academia’s “heavy hitters”. Regardless, even the brightest minds or intelligence would not be able to explain what happened in the Highlanders’ win over Army.
NJIT scored 16 first half points, followed by 53 following intermission to post a 69-67 victory over Army. It was a game coach Jim Engles’ club trailed most of by double figures. It was a turnaround even Engles admits, “I just have no explanation for.”
One thing NJIT did in the final half was extend pressure and push the ball on offense. Army, interestingly enough, is an uptempo team, averaging 72 possessions entering the game. Wouldn’t the faster pace be better suited to the visitors?
“That was something we realized when we decided to speed up,” Engles said. “But when you are playing to protect a lead things are different. In our situation we are on the other end. We are playing a lot looser because we have nothing to lose. At that point, playing faster was best for us.”
The last 32 seconds alone were as strange as it gets. With four seconds left on the shot clock, NJIT (not planning to given the clock situation) fouled. Army went 0 for 2 from the line, but the lead was still three. Ryan Woods of NJIT hits a three to tie with 14 seconds left. Army comes down and is guilty of a charge at the other end with 10 seconds to play.
That put NJIT on offense, and the ball is knocked out by Army with two seconds left. On the inbounds pass Chris Flores converts inside and is fouled. He missed the free throw with a second left, and in the rebounding battle the horn goes off. Game over.
NJIT players high-fived ecstatic fans as the Highlanders improved to 5-4. Army fell to 4-5.
The numbers of note:
Possessions:
Army 73
NJIT 74
A fast pace as noted.
Offensive efficiency:
NJIT 93
Army 92
Neither team excelled in this area. For NJIT, it was enough to get the win.
Of the four factors, Army’s turnover rate of 32 percent was detrimental given NJIT committed only 10 miscues for a sterling 14 percent rate. Army did a great job drawing fouls as their free throw rate (free throws attempted divided by field goals attempted) was an outstanding 82 percent. NJIT had a solid 42 percent FT rate but for the visiting Black Knights attempting 35 free throws against 43 field goal tries is off the charts material.
Ella Ellis led Zach Spiker’s Black Knights with 16 points. Andrew Stire, a 6-7 junior, came off the bench for a strong 13-point, seven-rebound effort. Flores, a 6-2 senior guard, paced NJIT with 17 points. He shot 6 of 20 from the floor but did grab seven rebounds, hand out three assists, have five steals and zero turnovers.
Points in the paint were even at 26. NJIT enjoyed a 27-9 points off turnover advantage which was huge toward putting them in the win column.
As noted, NJIT scored 16 first half points. At the break Army held a 24-16 edge. That three-possession difference felt more like fifteen points given the way NJIT struggled (6 of 29 for 21% first half shooting) on the offensive end.
