NEWARK, NJ–On Saturday night, GMC Hoops traveled over to the Estelle and Zoom Fleisher Center on the campus of NJIT to take in the 2015 CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT) quarterfinals between Canisus of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and NJIT. In the contest, NJIT trailed 60-54 with 6:06 remaining when it put together a decisive 19-7 tear for a 73-67 lead with 37 seconds left, and held on to win 78-73. Former St. Anthony’s standout, Tim Coleman led the way with 22 points on 8 of 11 shooting from the floor as well as 11 rebounds and 4 steals while Damon Lynn overcame an off night of 4 of 18 shooting with an 11 of 13 performance from the foul line. Winfield Willis chipped in with 14 points while Daquan Holiday and Ky Howard each added 8 in the victory. Kevin Bleeker led Canisius in a losing cause with 16 points while Zach Lewis chipped in with 11 and Jeremiah Williams added 10. East Brunswick’s Rob Ukawuba (NJIT) and St. Joseph’s Raven Owen (Canisius) did not play.
First Half
20:00–Game is about to start. Former St. Joseph’s standout, Raven Owen is warming up for Canisius while former EB standout, Rob Ukawuba did not dress for NJIT. Both Owen and Ukawuba have yet to play in the CIT.
15:12 left in the first half and there is a timeout with NJIT leading 8-6 after a three by Winfield Willis capped a 6-0 run.
11:45 left in the first half and Canisius calls a timeout with NJIT leading 15-9 after another three by Winfield Willis. The roar of the crowd is amazing.
8:05 left in the first half and NJIT leads 21-19 after a 10-6 run by Canisius including two threes by Kevin Bleeker and two fts by Jamal Reynolds. Tim Coleman had two FGs for NJIT during this stretch.
5:26 left in the first half and we are tied at 23-23 after Canisius got scores at the 7:28 and 6:20 marks to take a 23-21 lead. NJIT tied it on a reverse layup off a nice feed by Tim Coleman.
3:17 left in the first half and NJIT pulls within one on a trey from just to the right of the top of the key by Damon Lynn.
1:30 left in the first half and Canisius takes a 31-26 lead on a transition layup by Jamal Reynolds.
0:00–Despite a late three from the left wing by NJIT’s Damon Lynn, Canisius takes a 35-31 lead into the locker room.
Second Half
16:46 left in the game and NJIT has tied it at 42-42 on a jumper by Tim Coleman. Highlanders on an 11-3 spurt. Canisius scored first 4 Pts of half. Two of those points came on free throws at the start of the 2nd half after NJIT had been assessed a technical foul because of an altercation between NJIT students and the Canisius team.
15:53 remaining and we have a timeout with Canisius leading 43-42.
12:24 left in the game and we are tied at 48-48 thanks to a three from the left side of the key by Ky Howard.
11:54 left in the game and there’s a timeout with Canisius leading 51-48 after the Griffins make an earlier three.
11:07 left in the game and NJIT calls for time after Canisius scores on a layup for a 7-0 run and a 55-48 lead.
7:32 left in the game and Canisius calls a 30 second timeout after Tim Coleman drives in from the right side for a reverse layup that pulls NJIT within one at 55-54.
5:45 left in the game and NJIT calls timeout after a three from the right wing by Damon Lynn ends a 5-0 Canisius run for a 60-57 Canisius lead.
4:03 remaining in the game and the Fleisher Center is rockin after Ky Howard dribbles down the right lane for a scoop shot layup that puts NJIT ahead 63-62.
1:31 left in the game and Canisius calls timeout after great ball movement by NJIT leads to layin by Duquan Holliday that puts NJIT up 69-62.
46.6 seconds left in the game and Holliday has just fouled out for NJIT. NJIT leads 70-67.
18.4 seconds left in the game and Canisius calls for time after a layin by Canisius closes the gap to 75-71 in favor of NJIT.
0:00–Game has just ended with NJIT winning 78-73. Fans storm the court at NJIT. NJIT ends game on a 24-13 surge over last 6:06. Tim Coleman and Damon Lynn lead the way by sharing game high honors with 22 points. Winfield Willis chipped in with 14 while Daquan Holiday and Ky Howard each added 8. Kevin Bleeker led Canisius in a losing cause with 16 points while Zach Lewis chipped in with 11 and Jeremiah Williams added 10. NJIT traveled to Northern Arizona in the CIT Final Four on Tuesday night.