NJIT Highlanders Defeat UMass Lowell River Hawks 73-64
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 6:00 PM ET · Kennedy Family Athletic Complex
NJIT Highlanders 73, UMass Lowell River Hawks 64, 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 NJIT Highlanders vs UMass Lowell River Hawks?
NJIT Highlanders beat UMass Lowell River Hawks 73-64 at Kennedy Family Athletic Complex on January 15, 2026.
Who was favored in NJIT Highlanders vs UMass Lowell River Hawks?
UMass Lowell River Hawks were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -410 (about 80% implied). The underdog won.
In a tightly contested matchup, the NJIT Highlanders emerged victorious against the UMass Lowell River Hawks with a final score of 73-64 at the Kennedy Family Athletic Complex. This game was particularly noteworthy as both teams entered with identical records of 8-11, making the contest crucial for momentum in the NCAAB season.
The Highlanders, who have struggled recently, came into this game with a record of 4-6 over their last ten games, and they were on a one-game losing streak prior to this matchup. In their last five games, NJIT averaged 75.8 points while allowing 71.0 points per game. Their performance has been inconsistent, highlighted by a significant loss to the Butler Bulldogs (52-101) and a recent win against the New Hampshire Wildcats (80-76). In contrast, UMass Lowell had a better recent record of 6-4, riding a three-game winning streak into this game. They averaged 80.1 points scored and 75.7 points allowed over their last ten games, showcasing an offense that had found its rhythm.
At home, UMass Lowell had a solid record of 4-0 in their last four home games, while NJIT struggled on the road with a 1-4 away record. This home advantage for the River Hawks was expected to play a significant role in the game, but NJIT managed to overcome it. The previous meetings between these two teams had been evenly matched, with both teams winning one game each in their last two encounters. UMass Lowell won the last meeting on January 11, 2025, with a score of 70-62, while NJIT claimed victory in their earlier matchup on January 31, 2025, winning 83-62.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details, but any absence of key players could have influenced the game dynamics. The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, favored UMass Lowell with a spread of -8.5, indicating expectations for a home win. The total points line was set at 145.5, with both the over and under priced at -110. The home money line was at -410, while the away money line stood at +320, reflecting the perceived strength of the River Hawks in this matchup.
Weather conditions were not mentioned, but indoor games typically do not face the same environmental factors as outdoor sports. As the game unfolded, viewers were treated to a competitive atmosphere, with both teams exchanging leads throughout. Key moments included free throws by Darrel Yepdo and Angel Montas Jr., which were pivotal in the closing stages of the game.
Ultimately, NJIT's ability to execute down the stretch and capitalize on free throw opportunities helped them secure the win. The Highlanders' performance in this game could serve as a turning point in their season, while UMass Lowell will need to regroup and address their defensive lapses as they move forward.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UML -8.5 | 145.5 o -110 / u -110 | NJIT Highlanders +320 · UMass Lowell River Hawks -410 |
Leaders
- PointsAngel Montas Jr.22UMass Lowell River Hawks
- AssistsDarrel Yepdo3UMass Lowell River Hawks
- ReboundsAngel Montas Jr.11UMass Lowell River Hawks
- PointsAri Fulton24NJIT Highlanders
- AssistsSebastian Robinson3NJIT Highlanders
- ReboundsMelvyn Ebonkoli9NJIT Highlanders
Recent form
UMass Lowell River Hawks
Last 10: 6-4Streak W380.1 scored · 75.7 allowed per game4-0 at home
- W73-68at Binghamton BearcatsJan 10
- W77-63at Bryant BulldogsJan 8
- W83-71vs UAlbany Great DanesJan 3
- L62-90at Iowa HawkeyesDec 29
- L76-88at Boston University TerriersDec 21
- W87-82vs Sacred Heart PioneersDec 16
- L71-75at Quinnipiac BobcatsDec 13
- W122-73vs Fisher EaglesDec 10
- L60-80at Massachusetts MinutemenDec 6
- W90-67vs Emerson LionsNov 29
NJIT Highlanders
Last 10: 4-6Streak L167.7 scored · 74.7 allowed per game1-4 away
- L70-74vs Maine Black BearsJan 10
- 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
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 | NJIT Highlanders | UMass Lowell River Hawks |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 24-61 | 21-58 |
| Field goal % | 39 | 36 |
| Three-pointers | 6-24 | 4-18 |
| Three-point % | 25 | 22 |
| Free throws | 19-24 | 18-25 |
| Free throw % | 79 | 72 |
| Rebounds | 37 | 44 |
| Offensive rebounds | 9 | 12 |
| Defensive rebounds | 28 | 32 |
| Assists | 8 | 7 |
| Steals | 6 | 1 |
| Blocks | 3 | 5 |
| Turnovers | 7 | 12 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 11 | 11 |
| Fast-break points | 3 | 10 |
| Points in the paint | 28 | 28 |
| Fouls | 21 | 20 |
| Largest lead | 21 | 2 |
| Lead changes | 2 | 2 |
| Time in front | 93 | 2 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half44-33John Kelly makes layup
- 2nd Half44-35Angel Montas Jr. makes layup
- 2nd Half46-35Sebastian Robinson makes layup
- 2nd Half48-35Sebastian Robinson makes 11-foot jumper
- 2nd Half48-38Angel Montas Jr. makes 24-foot three point jumper (Shawn Simmons II assists)
- 2nd Half49-38Melvyn Ebonkoli makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-38Sebastian Robinson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-40Austin Green makes layup
- 2nd Half52-40Sebastian Robinson makes 13-foot jumper
- 2nd Half55-40Ari Fulton makes 25-foot three point jumper (Sebastian Robinson assists)
- 2nd Half55-42Khalil Farmer makes 11-foot jumper
- 2nd Half57-42Sebastian Robinson makes layup
- 2nd Half57-43Xavier Spencer makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-44Angel Montas Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half57-45Angel Montas Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-45Rocco Awad makes 25-foot three point jumper (John Kelly assists)
- 2nd Half60-47Darrel Yepdo makes layup
- 2nd Half60-48Khalil Farmer makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-48John Kelly makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-48John Kelly makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-50Xavier Spencer makes layup
- 2nd Half63-50Ari Fulton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half64-50Ari Fulton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-52Khalil Farmer makes 15-foot jumper
- 2nd Half64-54Angel Montas Jr. makes layup
- 2nd Half65-54John Kelly makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half65-55Darrel Yepdo makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half65-56Darrel Yepdo makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-56Melvyn Ebonkoli makes 1-foot dunk (John Kelly assists)
- 2nd Half68-56Melvyn Ebonkoli makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half69-56Ari Fulton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half70-56Ari Fulton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-57Darrel Yepdo makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half70-58Darrel Yepdo makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-58David Bolden makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-59Angel Montas Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-60Angel Montas Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-62Xavier Spencer makes layup (Darrel Yepdo assists)
- 2nd Half73-62Melvyn Ebonkoli makes layup (Ari Fulton assists)
- 2nd Half73-64Angel Montas Jr. makes layup (Khalil Farmer assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours UMass Lowell River Hawks, below favours NJIT Highlanders.
Venue
- Kennedy Family Athletic ComplexLowell, MA
- Attendance472
- OfficialsEvon Burroughs, Daniel Basile, Mike Evans
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