Redshirt freshman guard Jahad Thomas scored 20 points in a team-high 35 minutes and graduate student Marco Banegas-Flores added a career-high 19 points as UMass Lowell men’s basketball hung on to beat NJIT 71-67 on Wednesday evening.

“We’re real happy,” said Head Coach Pat Duquette. “We’re just continuing to play. We’re doing all the things that are important to us, particularly on the defensive end that we know are the reason why we’re winning games.”

The win marks the sixth straight victory for the River Hawks, pushing their overall record to 6-2. NJIT fell to 2-5 with the loss.

Banegas-Flores was able to notch his career-high in points by shooting an extremely effective 6-9 from the field including 5-7 from beyond the arc.

“We had a strong core of upperclassmen returning at UMass Lowell,” said Duquette. “Tough kids that were about winning, and I knew Marco was the same. I knew that he would fit in seamlessly on both sides…It’s almost like he’s been playing here three of four years.”

Bangeas-Flores got the River Hawks on the board first with a three pointer from the corner, only to see NJIT jump out to an early lead in the first half. But UMass Lowell battled back with big shots by Thomas and sophomore Tyler Livingston. Livingston’s first basket couldn’t have come at a better time, hitting a three-pointer to spark a huge 10-2 run by the River Hawks in the first half.

NJIT sophomore guard Damon Lynn did everything he could to keep his team in it in the first half, draining 3-5 of his three-point attempts, only to see the River Hawks end the half on a 10-0 run and take a 35-22 lead into the break.

Bangeas-Flores opened up the second half similar to the first, draining another three to tie his career-high at 17 points. NJIT stayed close, however, using a 22-6 run to get within three points with just over nine minutes remaining. The run was sparked by Lynn hitting more tough shots, as well as the defense forcing misses for the River Hawks.

The home team was able to regain composure though, with freshman Lance Crawford hitting some huge shots down the stretch.

“Guys like my teammates, they just allow me to even be more confident and just take shots like that,” said Crawford. “So they just make me a more confident player.”

Crawford and his teammates were able to get good looks in the second half thanks to a season-high 12 rebounds from senior Kerry Weldon, including six offensive.

Withstanding the Highlanders comeback attempt, the River Hawks got clutch baskets from Crawford, Thomas and senior Chad Holley to secure the win and pull out the 71-67 decision.

The River Hawks’ success can be attributed to their hot shooting of late, including marks of 52.6% (10-19) from three and 44% (22-50) overall in this game.

The Highlanders were led by Lynn (24 points), Tim Coleman (11 points), and Winfield Willis (11 points).