NJIT vs UMBC Prediction 2/22/25 College Basketball Picks

The NJIT Highlanders and the UMBC Retrievers meet Saturday in college basketball action from Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena. Here’s an NJIT vs UMBC prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best NJIT vs UMBC pick. We will examine: 

The NJIT Highlanders’ recent form and player performance

The UMBC Retrievers’ recent form and player performance 

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the NJIT Highlanders

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the UMBC Retrievers

Recent betting trends in games played between NJIT and UMBC

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the NJIT vs UMBC game

NJIT Highlanders Betting Preview

NJIT has struggled mightily this year, with only a few scattered wins in the books. The Highlanders went just 3-12 over their first 15 games, losing to Penn, Villanova, Loyola MD, Morgan State, George Washington, Bucknell, Cleveland State, UMass, Seton Hall, Delaware State, Wagner, and Washington in that time. NJIT has won just twice since then over New Hampshire and UMass Lowell. Otherwise, it’s been losses to UMBC, UMass Lowell, Maine, Vermont, Albany, Bryant, Maine, New Hampshire, Bryant, and Binghamton in succession for a 5-22 overall run through the first 27 games of the year. 

Last weekend in the Binghamton game, NJIT came back from a 30-27 halftime deficit to force overtime. The Highlanders ended up losing 75-71 after the extra period, however. Leading the team in the losing effort was Tim Moore with 28 points and eight rebounds. Tariq Francis added 17 points with seven assists and four boards, while Jordan Rogers had 11 points. 

UMBC Retrievers Betting Preview

Over on the Retrievers’ side, they’ve been fighting off the .500 mark for most of the year—and losing the battle lately. UMBC went 7-5 over their first dozen games though, with wins over Penn State-York, Valley Forge, Coppin State, Howard, Morgan State, Towson, and Cairn U. A 4-5 run came next featuring losses to Georgia Tech, Marist, Binghamton, New Hampshire and Maine. UMBC hit the skids after that on a 1-5 stretch. The lone win came versus Binghamton. Otherwise, it was losses to Bryant, UMass Lowell, New Hampshire, Maine, and Bryant. That gave the Retrievers a 12-15 overall run through their first 27 games of the season. 

Matched up against UMass Lowell on Thursday, the Retrievers were outpaced 52-44 in the first half. UMBC didn’t end up getting any closer than that on a 46-36 deficit and took the loss in the end 98-79. Bryce Johnson led the way with 19 points with four rebounds and three steals. Louie Jordan added 15 points, two rebounds, and one assist in 27 minutes. Josh Odunowo was also in double-figures during the losing effort with 12 points, three rebounds and two assists in 20 minutes of work on the floor. Tops off the bench was Devan Sapp with five points. 

Why the UMBC Retrievers will win

• NJIT has lost each of its last 11 road games against Conference opponents.
• UMBC has won each of its last four games at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena following a road loss.
• The home team has won the first half in 11 of NJIT’s last 14 games.

Why the NJIT Highlanders will win

• UMBC has lost six of its last seven games against the America East Conference.
• The road team has won each of the last three games between NJIT and UMBC.

NJIT vs UMBC Prediction 

I’ll lean toward taking a stab at NJIT here, but I’m not touching this one. Last weekend the Highlanders had a spotty game in an overtime loss to a middling Binghamton squad. NJIT posted just 37.1 percent shooting from the field in that one and got out-rebounded badly 57-36 (18-8 offensive). That makes five straight losses for the Highlanders, and they’ve given up 75 or more points in each of those defeats. 

These teams last saw each other back on January 9 in an 87-64 home loss for the Highlanders. NJIT shot well in that one (47.3 percent) and had a 32-27 rebounding edge. The glaring stats in opposition, however, were the 53.4 percent shooting allowed to the Retrievers and the 20 NJIT turnovers for a whopping 30 UMBC points. The Highlanders need a major turnaround in this road rematch in order to keep any kind of pace, so I’m staying away. It’s possible, though.