Under the Radar Game of the Day – Wednesday, January 6: NJIT at Yale

Under the Radar Game of the Day: NJIT at Yale, 7:00 PM Eastern

On January 9, 2015, the NJIT Highlanders defeated the Yale Bulldogs in Newark by a score of 78-71 behind 23 points from Damon Lynn and 22 from Tim Coleman.  They also got help from the fact that Yale’s top player, Justin Sears, was knocked out of the game early in the first half (thanks to his tooth being knocked out of his mouth during a collision).  Tonight, Yale has revenge on its mind, both for last season’s loss and for Sears’ tooth.  The Bulldogs will be hosting NJIT in New Haven in the Under the Radar Game of the Day.

NJIT enters play with a record of 9-6.  Tonight’s game is the last non-conference game for the Highlanders.  For the first time in school history, NJIT will begin play in a D1 conference with an automatic bid when they begin Atlantic Sun play on Saturday.  The Highlanders continue to be led be the threesome of Damon Lynn, Ky Howard and Tim Coleman.  However, they have also benefited from strong play by Terrence Smith and a breakout season by junior Rob Ukawuba.  The depth and experience on this team will make them a contender in their first A-Sun season.  But before Atlantic Sun play begins, NJIT will try to pick up one more road win tonight.

Defeating Yale will not be an easy task at all for NJIT.  Yale enters play tonight with a record of only 7-5, but also the top KenPom rating (73) of all Ivy League schools.  Although defeating NJIT tonight may qualify as the Bulldogs’ best win on the season to date, none of their five losses were in any way bad (at Duke, at USC, at Illinois, at SMU and at Albany).  Justin Sears continues to lead the way for Yale and, despite Maodo Lo from Columbia winning Mid-Season Ivy League Player of the Year from our colleague Jon Teitel, Sears should be a serious contender for the conference POY at the end of the season.  Sears scored 24 points last time out against Hartford.  He also has some strong help, including Makai Mason (double digits all but one game this season) and Jack Montague, a three point specialist who has made more 3-pointers this year (30) than he has attempted 2-point shots (21).  With only one more game left in the non-conference schedule for Yale after this one, tonight’s game could be the springboard they need as they head into conference play beginning next weekend.