VESTAL, N.Y. - Visiting NJIT (2-0) stretched a nine-point halftime lead with 54 percent shooting in the second half and pinned a 74-57 loss on Binghamton men's basketball (0-2) Friday night at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center. 

Despite struggling from the perimeter throughout the first half (7-for-27), BU was down only five, 25-20, with the ball for the final shot of the half. But a mid-court turnover resulted in a layup and then NJIT stole the ensuing inbounds pass in the backcourt and converted at the halftime buzzer to carry a 29-20 lead into the break.

In the second half, the Highlanders quickly stretched their lead to 12 and BU could draw no closer than eight the rest of the way. NJIT put four players in double figures and tallied 40 points in the paint (to BU's 24).

"It wasn't our night," head coach Tommy Dempsey said. "We didn't play well from start to finish but we have to put it behind us. It's the first week of the season ... we have work to do but we have to keep moving forward."

Freshman guard Sam Sessoms led the Bearcats with 13 points and three assists. Senior guard J.C. Show had 12 points and six boards and senior forward Chancellor Barnard added eight points and eight rebounds. Senior forward Caleb Stewart pulled down eight points in 11 minutes of action. 

Binghamton finishes out its three-game homestand by hosting Misericordia at 7 p.m. on Monday.