Box Score
NEWARK, N.J. - Trying to reach the quarterfinals of a postseason tournament for the third time in program history, the Boston University men's basketball fell just short at NJIT, 83-72, during the second round of the CIT on Monday night.
Despite scoring 52 points in the second half, the Terriers end their season at 19-15, while the Highlanders (19-14) advance to their second consecutive CIT quarterfinals with a perfect 5-0 home record in the event.
During his program career-tying 129th appearance in the scarlet and white, senior John Papale led BU with 19 points. He drained four 3-pointers to break Corey Lowe's ('10) previous record for 92 made treys in a season and also finished as the career-record holder for assist-turnover ratio at 2.36. Sophomore Cheddi Mosely contributed 15 points, while classmate Nick Havener was one rebound shy of a double-double with 11 points.
The nation's leader in 3-point attempts and an All-Atlantic Sun First Team honoree, Damon Lynn opened with three straight bombs to give NJIT a lead that would never be relinquished. He ended the contest with 31 points and seven rebounds, while Tim Coleman posted 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Rob Ukawuba and Ky Howard were the other two in double figures at 14 and 12 points, respectively.
After Lynn scored nine straight, Ukawuba extended the lead to 13-3 at 14:50 on a tip-in off Howard's missed jumper. Papale responded with a jumper to key a 12-4 spurt capped by his first 3-pointer at 8:51.
The Terriers would never get closer, as Howard came right back with his own trey to ignite NJIT's 21-5 run that put the Highlanders ahead, 38-20, at the half. BU was held to 30.8 percent shooting and just one assist against eight turnovers.
BU adjusted to the physical up-tempo game coming out of the locker room by getting to the line 24 times in the second half after attempting just three free throws in the first 20 minutes while shooting 48.1 percent from the field.
An All-Patriot League First Team honoree, Fanning opened the second stanza with a tough layup and free throw beofre setting up Papale's record-breaking 3-pointer to pull within 14 (40-26) at 18:54. Lynn though responded with another trey, and Fanning experienced a double whammy with a tough offensive charge and technical foul.
With four fouls and 17:35 left in regulation, Fanning went to the bench, and NJIT took advantage with a 10-0 run capped by Howard's 3-pointer at 16:37 to extend the lead to 50-26. Down but not out, BU chipped away at the deficit and pulled within 13 (55-42) five minutes later on back-to-back Mosely bombs.
The teams went back and forth, but the Terriers could not get enough stops to cut the deficit to single digits. Sophomore Eric Johnson fed Havener for a layup at 6:17 to trail 70-60 before Lynn came back with two free throws.
NJIT committed nine second-half turnovers compared to BU's four miscues but overcame the mistakes by shooting 61.5 percent during the final 20 minutes to claim the victory.
The Highlanders finished with a 36-18 advantage in points in the paint, as the Terriers went 21-of-53 (.396) and 10-of-29 (.345) in 3-point territory.
The loss marked the final game for both Papale and senior Nathan Dieudonne, who recorded two rebounds to finish with 693 career boards, 11th most in program history. They helped guide BU to three postseason appearances in four years and claim a postseason victory (69-66 win at Fordham) for the first time since 2010.
Forced to use 15 different starting lineups this season due to injuries across the roster, fifth-year head coach Joe Jones will return next season with an experienced lineup that has eight players coming back with at least seven starts from the year.
A preseason All-Conference honoree who only played 10 minutes due to injury, junior Cedric Hankerson will be one of three returning All-PL Rookie Team honorees alongside Mosely and freshman Kyle Foreman (9.2 ppg, 3.9 apg), who missed both CIT games due to injury. Fanning led BU in scoring last year at 15.2 ppg and is just 206 points away from reaching 1,000 points following two years with the Terriers.
Senior Justin Alston (8.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg), who missed the final 26 games, will be back as well as forwards Blaise Mbargorba and Dylan Haines, who combined for 55 blocks. Havener will be the active leader in double-doubles with four total. Guards Mosely and Johnson combined for 84 3-pointers and 72 assists in their second season with the Terriers.
Recognized as the 2016 PL Coach of the Year by NBCSports.com, Jones previously announced last fall the signing of two All-State First Team forwards in Tyler Scanlon (Chantilly, Va.) and Max Mahoney (Basking Ridge, N.J.).
