NEWARK, N.J. (Interstat) — Sebastian Robinson scored 22 points and the NJIT Highlanders used a dominant second-half surge to pull away from the Bryant Bulldogs for a 79-55 victory in an America East Conference men’s basketball game Monday afternoon at Fleisher Athletic Center.

The game, played before an announced crowd of 545, was a tale of two halves, with the Highlanders flipping a competitive opening period into a lopsided affair after halftime. NJIT improved to 9-11 overall, while Bryant fell to 6-13.

A sluggish first half saw both teams struggle from the field. Bryant, which entered the game as a significant favorite according to advanced metrics, held a brief early lead and trailed by just six points, 29-23, at intermission. The Bulldogs shot a frigid 23.1% in the opening frame, a harbinger of offensive woes to come.

The complexion of the game changed dramatically after the break. NJIT exploded for 50 second-half points, shooting 57.1% from the floor and outscoring Bryant by 18. The Highlanders opened the half on a 14-2 run, effectively putting the game out of reach within the first five minutes. The most important part of the game was this decisive burst, which capitalized on Bryant’s continued cold shooting and growing frustration.

Robinson, a guard from Montclair, New Jersey, led all scorers and added seven rebounds and four assists in 34 minutes. He was instrumental in the second-half onslaught, creating shots for himself and others. David Bolden supported him with 17 points, including three 3-pointers. As a team, NJIT was efficient, making 11 of 27 from beyond the arc and an impressive 20 of 22 from the free-throw line.

Bryant, conversely, could not find any offensive rhythm. The Bulldogs finished the game shooting 31.3% overall and 24% from 3-point range. Their 55 points came on 63 possessions, translating to an offensive rating of just 86.8. Aaron Davis led Bryant with 11 points and six rebounds, while Keegan Harvey added 10 points and five boards.

The Highlanders also won the battle of ball security and creation, forcing 11 Bryant turnovers while committing only seven, and tallying eight steals to the Bulldogs’ three. NJIT’s 126.5 offensive rating starkly contrasted with Bryant’s struggles.

The result was an upset relative to pregame projections and pushed the combined score under the betting over/under line of 133.5. For NJIT, it marked a second win in three conference games, building on a road victory at UMass Lowell last week where Robinson also starred with 20 points. Bryant, coming off an overtime win against UMBC, saw its momentum halted emphatically.

NJIT next travels to face Maryland-Baltimore County on Thursday. Bryant returns home to host Vermont on Saturday. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Smithfield, Rhode Island, on Feb. 28.