DURHAM – Junior guard KiJan Robinson scored a team-high 16 points but the University of New Hampshire men’s basketball team was defeated 76-70 by NJIT at Lundholm Gym on Thursday night.

Junior guard Comeh Emuobor finished with 15 points and six rebounds while both junior forward Belal El Shakery and freshman guard Tyler Bike of Merrimack netted 10 points. Bike also led the Wildcats with three assists and sophomore forward John Squire pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.

NJIT was led by Sebastian Robinson (23 points) and Ari Fulton (18).

UNH moves to 8-15 overall and 4-6 in America East. NJIT improves to 14-12, 9-2.

The Highlanders built the largest lead of the game – 14 points – at 51-37 with 14:50 on the clock. Consecutive 3-pointers by Robinson at 1:14 and Poser with 32 seconds to play lifted the ‘Cats within 71-66, and Robinson made another 3-ball with 21 seconds remaining to close the gap to 73-69.

UNH could get no closer the rest of the way as the Highlanders made 3 of 4 free throws in the closing seconds.

UNH returns to action Saturday at 1 p.m. at Lundholm against UMBC on Alumni Day.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

NJIT 55, UNH 47

Junior guard Maggie Cavanaugh scored a team-high 16 points but it wasn’t enough at the Joel and Diane Bloom Events Center in Newark, N.J.

Cavanaugh, who shot 8 of 14 from the floor, also led the Wildcats in both rebounds (seven) and assists (four). Junior guard Eva DeChent also scored in double digits with 13 points.

Cavanaugh, grad student guard Kenzie Matulonis and sophomore guard Elizabeth Lavoie of Hampstead recorded two blocks apiece as the ‘Cats finished with a season high of nine.

NJIT was led by the duo of Allison Cannon (17 points) and Alejandra Zuniga (16).

Camryn Fauria made it a four-point game, 51-47, at 1:59. NJIT made 1 of 2 free throws on consecutive trips to the line to inch ahead 53-47 with 29 seconds remaining.

UNH missed a 3-pointer with 19 seconds on the clock, the Highlanders secured the defensive rebound and made two foul shots with 14 seconds to play to close out the scoring 55-47.

UNH moves to 8-16 overall and 2-9 in America East. NJIT is now 15-10, 6-6.

The Wilcats return to action Saturday at 1 p.m. at UMBC.