NEW YORK (Interstat) — In a stunning upset to open the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season, the NJIT Highlanders went on the road and thoroughly outplayed the Fordham Rams, securing a 72-61 victory Tuesday night at a sparsely populated Rose Hill Gym.

The result defied nearly all pregame expectations, as national statistical models gave Fordham a 93.2 percent probability of victory and betting markets had installed the Rams as a 12.5-point favorite. Instead, it was the Highlanders who looked like the dominant force, leading from wire-to-wire in a game where the final score belied their control of the contest.

A crowd of 1,008 witnessed the Highlanders seize the initiative from the opening tip, building a commanding lead in the first half that the Rams could never truly threaten. NJIT took a 37-26 advantage into the locker room at halftime, setting a tone of defensive intensity and offensive efficiency that would carry them through the night. While Fordham managed to match NJIT’s second-half output with 35 points apiece, the damage was already done, and the Rams could never cut the deficit to a single possession.

The Highlanders were propelled by a standout performance from David Bolden, who led all scorers with 18 points while also pulling down 7 rebounds and dishing out 3 assists in his 34 minutes of action. Bolden’s all-around game provided a steadying presence for NJIT, especially when Fordham attempted to mount a comeback.

He was ably supported by the backcourt duo of Jordan Rogers and Rocco Awad. Rogers delivered an impressive and efficient performance, nearly notching a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 6 assists, while also contributing 7 rebounds. His playmaking was crucial in breaking down the Fordham defense and creating high-percentage shots for his teammates. Awad added 12 points and a pair of blocked shots, providing a valuable scoring punch from the wing.

The Highlanders also received significant contributions from their bench and role players. Quentin Duncan provided an offensive spark in his limited 12 minutes, scoring 8 points. Malachi Arrington chipped in 6 points and 6 rebounds, while Ari Fulton added 8 points and 4 boards. This balanced offensive attack, combined with a swarming team defense, proved to be the winning formula for NJIT.

For Fordham, the night was one of frustration. Despite a valiant effort from DeJour Reaves, who poured in a team-high 21 points to go along with 6 rebounds and 3 assists, the Rams struggled to find any consistent rhythm. Reaves was often forced into difficult shots as the primary offensive option, and his teammates were unable to provide sufficient secondary scoring.

The Rams did control the glass, with Rikus Schulte hauling in a game-high 11 rebounds. However, Schulte’s impact was limited offensively, as he finished with just 7 points. Zarique Nutter was a bright spot, scoring 15 points and using his length to record 2 blocks, but his efforts were not enough to overcome the team’s overall struggles. Abass Bodija also showed flashes of defensive prowess with 7 rebounds and 2 blocks in only 12 minutes of play, but foul trouble limited his effectiveness.

The game was a tale of two halves, but not in the traditional sense. NJIT’s first-half dominance, where they outscored Fordham by 11 points, established a cushion that allowed them to play with confidence down the stretch. Every time the Rams seemed poised to make a run in the second half, the Highlanders had an answer, whether it was a key basket from Bolden, a facilitating play from Rogers, or a defensive stop.

The victory marks a perfect start to the season for NJIT, which improves its record to 1-0. The schedule does not get any easier for the Highlanders, who will immediately turn their attention to a challenging slate of games. They host Fairfield this Saturday, November 8, before embarking on a grueling six-game road trip that includes contests against Loyola Maryland, Drexel, Navy, Cincinnati, Louisville, and Eastern Michigan.

For Fordham, the loss is a disappointing beginning to the campaign, dropping them to 0-1. The Rams will look to regroup quickly as they return to Rose Hill Gym to host Mt. St. Mary’s this Friday, November 7. They will then face Wagner at home before a highly anticipated road game against local rival Iona. The team will need to find answers for its offensive inconsistencies and defensive lapses if it hopes to right the ship during this early non-conference stretch.

The combined point total of 133 fell well short of the pregame over/under line of 145.5, a fact attributable to NJIT’s stifling defense and Fordham’s inefficient shooting night. On an evening where they were overwhelmingly picked to lose, the Highlanders served notice that they are a team capable of defying expectations, while the Rams were left to ponder a surprising and decisive season-opening defeat on their home floor.