NEWARK, N.J. — Tariq Francis delivered an impressive performance with 23 points, leading NJIT to a 69-64 victory against Navy in their recent matchup on Saturday.

Francis managed to shoot 9 of 26 from the field, including 1 of 8 from beyond the arc, and went a perfect 4 of 4 from the charity stripe. His contribution was crucial in the Highlanders’ (2-9) win. Sebastian Robinson also played a significant role, scoring 19 points on 9 of 16 shooting, along with five rebounds. Tim Moore Jr. chiped in with 10 points, converting 4 of 6 attempts from the floor and hitting 1 of 3 from three-point territory.

For the Midshipmen (3-7), Donovan Draper was the standout player, racking up 22 points while also grabbing 16 rebounds. Austin Benigni supported the team with 18 points and five assists, and Aidan Kehoe added to the scoreline with 10 points and seven rebounds.

The game saw NJIT and Navy enter halftime with the score tied at 33-33. In a strong showing during the second half, Moore contributed 10 points, while Francis excelled with 17 points, enabling NJIT to seal their five-point victory.