Maine Black Bears Edge NJIT Highlanders 74-70
Saturday, January 10, 2026, 2:00 PM ET · Joel & Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center
Maine Black Bears 74, NJIT Highlanders 70, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Maine Black Bears vs NJIT Highlanders?
Maine Black Bears beat NJIT Highlanders 74-70 at Joel & Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center on January 10, 2026.
Who was favored in Maine Black Bears vs NJIT Highlanders?
NJIT Highlanders were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -120 (about 55% implied). The underdog won.
In a tightly contested matchup, the Maine Black Bears defeated the NJIT Highlanders 74-70 at the Joel & Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center. This victory marks a significant achievement for Maine, who had struggled with a 3-15 record prior to this game, while NJIT entered with a 7-11 record. The win for Maine also extends their head-to-head advantage over NJIT to 3-0, having previously beaten them in two earlier meetings during the 2025 season.
Maine's recent form has been challenging, as they came into this game with a record of 2-8 over their last ten outings and were on a two-game losing streak. They averaged 62.4 points scored and allowed 69.5 points during this stretch. Their last game resulted in a 62-69 loss to the UMBC Retrievers. In contrast, NJIT had a record of 4-6 in their last ten games, riding a two-game winning streak leading up to this fixture, with an average of 65.4 points scored and 77.7 points allowed.
At home, NJIT had a record of 3-1 in their last four games, while they struggled more on the road with a 1-5 record. Maine, on the other hand, had a dismal away record of 1-5, which contributed to their overall struggles this season.
The game was marked by a series of scoring plays that highlighted Maine's resilience. Key free throws from TJ Biel and David Bolden helped maintain their lead in the second half, while Bolden's three-point jumper brought the score to 73-70, solidifying their advantage. Maine's ability to capitalize on free throw opportunities was crucial, as they made several late-game free throws to secure the win.
The betting lines from DraftKings indicated NJIT as a slight favorite with a spread of -1.5 and a total set at 130.5 points. The odds reflected the competitive nature of the matchup, with NJIT's moneyline at -120 and Maine's at 100.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any players missing from either team, allowing both squads to field their full rosters, which contributed to the intensity of the game.
The conditions at the venue were conducive to a spirited contest, with both teams eager to improve their standings. Fans witnessed a back-and-forth battle, with Maine ultimately emerging victorious, showcasing their determination and ability to perform under pressure.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | NJIT -1.5 | 130.5 o -110 / u -110 | Maine Black Bears +100 · NJIT Highlanders -120 |
Leaders
- PointsSebastian Robinson24NJIT Highlanders
- AssistsJordan Rogers3NJIT Highlanders
- ReboundsAri Fulton11NJIT Highlanders
- PointsTJ Biel21Maine Black Bears
- AssistsCaleb Crawford6Maine Black Bears
- ReboundsAce Flagg7Maine Black Bears
Recent form
NJIT Highlanders
Last 10: 4-6Streak W265.4 scored · 77.7 allowed per game3-1 at home
- W80-76vs New Hampshire WildcatsJan 9
- W73-65at Binghamton BearcatsJan 3
- L61-80at Pennsylvania QuakersDec 31
- W95-60vs SUNY Canton RoosDec 29
- L52-101at Butler BulldogsDec 22
- L49-65vs Sacred Heart PioneersDec 13
- W70-64vs New Haven ChargersDec 11
- L72-89at High Point PanthersDec 6
- L55-73at Eastern Michigan EaglesNov 28
- L47-104at Louisville CardinalsNov 27
Maine Black Bears
Last 10: 2-8Streak L262.4 scored · 69.5 allowed per game1-5 away
- L62-69at UMBC RetrieversJan 8
- L51-56vs Bryant BulldogsJan 3
- W104-66vs Maine Fort Kent BengalsDec 30
- L56-74at Drexel DragonsDec 21
- L43-70vs Canisius Golden GriffinsDec 13
- W69-59at Boston University TerriersDec 11
- L61-93at Miami (OH) RedHawksDec 6
- L57-79at Ohio BobcatsDec 4
- L60-64vs Siena SaintsNov 30
- L61-65at Longwood LancersNov 29
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| UMBC | 24-9 | - | 14-2 |
| Vermont | 22-12 | 2 | 12-4 |
| NJIT | 16-17 | 4 | 10-6 |
| UMass Lowell | 15-18 | 5 | 9-7 |
| UAlbany | 11-21 | 7 | 7-9 |
| Maine | 8-24 | 8 | 6-10 |
| New Hampshire | 9-21 | 9 | 5-11 |
| Bryant | 9-22 | 9 | 5-11 |
| Binghamton | 8-23 | 10 | 4-12 |
Box score
| Stat | Maine Black Bears | NJIT Highlanders |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 24-45 | 22-56 |
| Field goal % | 53 | 39 |
| Three-pointers | 9-20 | 4-14 |
| Three-point % | 45 | 29 |
| Free throws | 17-24 | 22-26 |
| Free throw % | 71 | 85 |
| Rebounds | 32 | 31 |
| Offensive rebounds | 5 | 10 |
| Defensive rebounds | 27 | 21 |
| Assists | 13 | 10 |
| Steals | 5 | 7 |
| Blocks | 1 | 1 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 6 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 1 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 4 | 14 |
| Fast-break points | 11 | 5 |
| Points in the paint | 22 | 26 |
| Fouls | 17 | 19 |
| Largest lead | 11 | 6 |
| Lead changes | 3 | 3 |
| Time in front | 68 | 26 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half42-44Ace Flagg makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half42-46David Bolden makes 16-foot jumper
- 2nd Half42-48Sebastian Robinson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half44-48TJ Biel makes layup
- 2nd Half44-49Sebastian Robinson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half44-50Sebastian Robinson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half45-50TJ Biel makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half47-50Logan Carey makes layup
- 2nd Half47-51John Kelly makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half47-52John Kelly makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half48-52Caleb Crawford makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-53John Kelly makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-54John Kelly makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half51-54Yanis Bamba makes 23-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half51-55John Kelly makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-56John Kelly makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-56Ace Flagg makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-56Ace Flagg makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half55-56Logan Carey makes layup (Caleb Crawford assists)
- 2nd Half57-56Keelan Steele makes 3-foot dunk (Caleb Crawford assists)
- 2nd Half60-56TJ Biel makes 23-foot three point jumper (Logan Carey assists)
- 2nd Half60-57Melvyn Ebonkoli makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-57TJ Biel makes 4-foot jumper
- 2nd Half64-57Ace Flagg makes layup
- 2nd Half64-59Sebastian Robinson makes layup (David Bolden assists)
- 2nd Half66-59Yanis Bamba makes layup
- 2nd Half66-60Sebastian Robinson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-60Logan Carey makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half68-60Logan Carey makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half68-63Jordan Rogers makes 25-foot three point jumper (Sebastian Robinson assists)
- 2nd Half69-63Yanis Bamba makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-65Sebastian Robinson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half70-65TJ Biel makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-65TJ Biel makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-66David Bolden makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-67David Bolden makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-67Logan Carey makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-67Logan Carey makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-70David Bolden makes 27-foot three point jumper (Jordan Rogers assists)
- 2nd Half74-70Caleb Crawford makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours NJIT Highlanders, below favours Maine Black Bears.
Venue
- Joel & Diane Bloom Wellness and Events CenterNewark, NJ
- Attendance343
- OfficialsWilliam Flowers Jr., Tiger Womack, Christopher Brown
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond
Picks for NCAAB
NCAAB rules and settlement
These two, other days
- NJIT Edges Maine in Nail-Biting FinishMar 7, 2026
- NJIT Highlanders Defeat Maine Black Bears 67-58Feb 14, 2026