Friday, November 28th, 12:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: The Palestra (8,700) -- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Television: None. Home Record: NJIT 0-1, Hartford 1-1. Away Record: NJIT 0-2, Hartford 0-3. Neutral Record: NJIT 0-0, Hartford 0-0. Conference Record: NJIT 0-0, Hartford 0-0. Series Record: First-ever meeting.

GAME NOTES: The NJIT Highlanders will try to score their first win of the season today, as they take on the Hartford Hawks in the Philly Hoop Group Classic. The Highlanders have played their last two outings in this event, falling at Penn State (74-47) and most recently at Towson (61-48) on Monday. Prior to those games, NJIT suffered a 56-32 season-opening loss at the hands of Manhattan. As for Hartford, it has won just one of its first five games and is 0-2 in this event. The Hawks opened the Philly Hoop Group Classic with an 89-64 loss at Penn State before falling at Rhode Island, 94-72, on Tuesday. This game will mark the first-ever meeting between NJIT and Hartford, whom will wrap up their stay in this event on Saturday.

The Highlanders shot just 34.5 percent from the floor and committed 20 turnovers, as they were defeated by Towson on Monday. The team was also outdone at the foul line, where it went just 2-of-6 compared to a 22-of-28 effort by Towson. Gary Garris led NJIT and all scorers with 23 points and six rebounds. It was a solid showing from Garris, who is the only player on the roster averaging in double figures with 15.0 ppg. As a whole, the Highlanders are managing just 42.3 ppg behind a horrific 28.4 percent shooting from the field this season.

The Hawks simply couldn't slow down Rhode Island on Tuesday, allowing it to hit on 52.2 percent from the floor, including 12-of-23 from downtown, in a 22- point setback. Hartford was also dominated on the boards, 42-30, and it even committed 15 turnovers. Joe Zeglinski made 6-of-13 long-range attempts and he paced the team with 20 points. Michael Turner had 16 points and four assists, and Jaret von Rosenberg chipped in with 10 points. On the year, Zeglinski leads the Hawks in each scoring (13.2 ppg) and rebounding (5.8 rpg), although he is shooting just 35.2 percent from the floor. Rosenberg contributes 12.2 ppg and Michael Sabia nets 10.4 ppg for Hartford, which is allowing 85.4 ppg on the year.

NJIT hasn't shown much thus far, so go with the Hawks, who seem to have more options and a much more potent attack.

Predicted Outcome

Hartford 74, NJIT 60