Men’s Basketball Returns Home to Face NJIT on Wednesday Night

UMBC men’s basketball returns to Baltimore to close out the season series with NJIT on Wednesday night. UMBC is coming off an emphatic 88-46 win at Maine on Saturday that saw 11 different Retrievers score in the contest.

BALTIMORE– UMBC men's basketball returns to Baltimore to close out the season series with NJIT on Wednesday night. UMBC is coming off an emphatic 88-46 win at Maine on Saturday that saw 11 different Retrievers score in the contest. The game on Wednesday will also be part of the annual Coaches vs. Cancer week, where the coaching staff will wear a special pullover as part of the initiative.

NJIT Game Info:
What: UMBC Retrievers (7-10, 2-4 AE) vs. NJIT Highlanders (8-9, 3-4 AE)
Where: Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena - Baltimore, Md.
When: Wednesday, January 26 - 7:00 p.m.
How to Watch: Live stream on ESPN+ and ESPN app, live stats at UMBCRetrievers.com
Social Media: @UMBC_MBB, @UMBCAthletics, #RetrieverNation, #AEHoops

Scouting the Retrievers:

The Retrievers are coming off an emphatic 88-46 win at Maine on Saturday that snapped a three-game losing streak. Nathan Johnson (Adel, Iowa) set a season-high with 17 points in the win, leading three in double figures. Johnson is currently on a streak of making at least one three pointer in the last five games.
Keondre Kennedy (Atlanta, Ga.) leads the Retrievers offense averaging 13.3 ppg, shooting 46 percent from the floor and pulling down 4.9 rpg.
Darnell Rogers (Baltimore, Md./Indian Land (SC)/New Mexico JC) is the only other Retriever averaging double figures at 10.6 ppg and is dishing out 2.9 apg.
L.J. Owens (Annapolis, Md./Severn School/William & Mary) has connected on a team-best 36 three pointers, leading the team from beyond the arc at 46.2 percent. Yaw Obeng-Mensah (Toronto, Ontario) is leading the team on the glass at 5.3 rpg.

Scouting the Highlanders:

The Highlanders head to Baltimore riding a four-game losing streak after starting the conference season 3-0. Most recently, NJIT fell 68-57 against Binghamton in Newark. The Highlanders had a four point lead at halftime, but Binghamton rallied in the second half for the win.
Miles Coleman leads the Highlanders averaging 15.8 ppg and is shooting 41.3 percent in just over 30 minutes per game. Coleman also leads the team on the glass, averaging 14.5 rpg.
Dylan O'Hearn is the only other Highlander in double figures at 14.5 ppg, playing just under 37 minutes per game, the most in the America East.

All-Time Series:

This will be the sixth all-time meeting and second this season against the Highlanders. NJIT leads the series 3-2, however, the Retrievers have won the last two, both on the road.
The two have met just once before in Baltimore back in 2014. NJIT won that matchup 70-55.
UMBC defeated then first-place NJIT just two weeks back, 76-56 in Newark. Jacob Boonyasith (Grand Rapids, Mich.) led the Retrievers with 14 points. Keondre Kennedy added 11 and seven rebounds.

Coaches vs. Cancer:

The UMBC coaching staff will be wearing a specially designed pullover as part of Coaches vs. Cancer week against NJIT. The annual event helps to raise awareness about the fight against cancer.
Since the American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer program began over 25 years ago, college and high school coaches have raised more than $140 million to attack cancer from every angle but they won't stop until cancer does. You can join the team and fundraise too at suitsandsneakers.org follow @CoachesvsCancer on social media.
You can help raise awareness about the fight against cancer, a disease which will affect one in three men and women in the U.S. in their lifetime. Help fight cancer and inspire hope. Get involved today by purchasing your specially designed 2022 Suits And Sneakers T-Shirt- follow Coaches vs. Cancer on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to find the link to order and to learn more.

Among the Best:

UMBC sits 16th nationally in team free throw percentage at 77.8, going 228-293 from the charity stripe this season.
The mark is good for first in the conference.

Milestone Watch:

Several Retrievers are approaching career milestones in 2021-22. L.J. Owens is approaching the 1,000 point mark, needing just 136 points to achieve the mark.
Darnell Rogers needs 19 points to reach 500 career points.

Up Next: