BURLINGTON, Vt. (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of fortune, the NJIT Highlanders weathered a furious second-half comeback by the Vermont Catamounts to secure a 79-77 victory in an America East Conference men’s basketball thriller on Saturday afternoon at a packed Roy L. Patrick Gymnasium.

The game’s defining narrative was a tale of two halves, with the Highlanders building a commanding lead only to see the Catamounts nearly erase it entirely in a frantic final 20 minutes. NJIT, which entered as a significant underdog with a projected win probability of just over 8 percent according to Interstat’s ELO system, led by as many as 18 points in the first half and took a 32-21 advantage into the break. Vermont’s first-half scoring output was its lowest of the season.

The second half, however, was a relentless Vermont assault. The Catamounts, spurred by the electric play of guard Sean Blake, exploded for 56 points. Blake, a sophomore from Mississauga, Canada, scored 21 of his game-high 23 points after halftime, relentlessly attacking the rim and pulling Vermont back into contention. His backcourt mate, TJ Hurley of Pelham, Canada, added 16 points, including several critical three-pointers during the comeback.

NJIT’s composure was tested repeatedly as the lead dwindled. The Highlanders’ answer came primarily from their senior guard, David Bolden of Milwaukee. Bolden, the team’s top star, orchestrated the offense with precision, finishing with 16 points, seven assists and six rebounds in 34 minutes. His steady hand and clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch were pivotal.

Every time Vermont made a run, NJIT found a response. When the Catamounts cut the deficit to single digits midway through the second half, Sebastian Robinson of Montclair, New Jersey, answered with a jumper. Robinson finished with 22 points. When Vermont pulled within four inside the final five minutes, Ari Fulton muscled in a layup. Fulton, a force from Fayetteville, North Carolina, recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

The most critical sequence came in the final 30 seconds. With NJIT clinging to a 75-74 lead, Bolden was fouled and sank two free throws with 23 seconds remaining. Blake responded with a driving layup to make it 77-76 with just 11 seconds on the clock. On the ensuing inbound, Vermont immediately fouled Fulton, who calmly made both free throws to extend the lead to three.

Vermont had one final chance. After a timeout, Blake received the inbound pass, dribbled to his right and launched a deep three-pointer over a defender that swished through the net, tying the game at 77-77 with one second left. The home crowd erupted, believing the game was headed to overtime.

But the clock showed 0.4 seconds remaining. On the final play, NJIT’s Jordan Rogers of Ridgewood, New Jersey, threw a long inbound pass from under Vermont’s basket. The pass sailed over everyone and was touched by a Vermont defender out of bounds on the far end line, giving NJIT possession under its own basket with 0.4 seconds left.

On the decisive inbounds play, Bolden lobbed a pass toward the rim where Fulton leaped, caught the ball and laid it in as the horn sounded. After a brief review, the basket was confirmed, giving NJIT the dramatic two-point win.

The victory improved NJIT’s record to 11-12 overall. Vermont fell to 14-9. The Highlanders outperformed expectations against a 13-point pregame spread and the total score of 156 points sailed over the over/under line of 138.5.

NJIT’s resilience was key, as they scored 10 points off Vermont’s 13 turnovers and outscored the Catamounts 8-5 in fastbreak points, crucial margins in such a tight contest. Vermont won the battle in the paint, 36-32, and shot a higher percentage after halftime, but could not overcome its frigid first-half start.

NJIT next hosts Massachusetts-Lowell on Thursday. Vermont travels to face Maine on the same night. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Newark on Feb. 21.