The Massachusetts Minutemen (3-5, 0-0 Atlantic 10) defeated the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) Highlanders (1-8, 0-0 America East) 80-68 on Sunday afternoon. In the series history, the Minutemen extended their lead to 2-0 over the Highlanders.
UMass started the game out strong against NJIT on Sunday afternoon. Once Daniel Hankins-Sanford scored the first basket for the Minutemen, the Highlanders tried to catch up throughout the game. UMass created a twenty-point lead in the first half but saw that lead start to disappear after NJIT came out of halftime. The Minutemen started slow to start the second half after Hankins-Sanford was ruled out of the game with an injury to what looked like it was his right hand. Daniel Rivera and Marqui Worthy both stepped up in the second half to bring the energy that would typically be brought by Hankins-Sanford to help keep the team in the game. The Highlanders were able to cut the lead to as small as seven points, but could not try to tie the game or have a chance of taking the lead, which resulted in a second straight win for UMass.
The Minutemen had three players in double-figure scoring on Sunday afternoon. Rivera led the way with his first double-double as a Minuteman with 16 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block, Worthy set a new career-high of 12 points, and Shahid Muhammad had 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 blocks to round out scorers in double digits. Nate Guerengomba had 9 points, Jaylen Curry had 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, Rahsool Diggins had 8 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block, Hankins-Sanford had 6 points through 11 minutes of play in the first half, Jayden Ndjigue had 6 points, Tarique Foster had 4 points, and Malek Abdelgowad had 1 point to round out all scorers.
UMass continues their homestand against the Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) Blue Devils (4-3, 0-0 Northeast Conference) on Wednesday night at 7pm. This is the fourteenth meeting between these two teams, and the Minutemen have a 9-3 lead in the series history over the Blue Devils.
Featured Image: Devin Lippman, UMass Athletics
Kaily “KG” Godek is a current student at Western New England University (WNE). She has been a supporter of UMass Athletics for over 15 years. Kaily focuses on both UMass Basketball teams and occasionally on the other Women’s Basketball teams in the conference. While writing for A10 Talk, she works in the athletic department at WNE. When she graduates from WNE she wants to go into either Sports Broadcasting and Journalism or Coaching. You can follow Kaily on X, formerly known as Twitter, @kgumass23.
