Buchanan has 24 and 15, SC Upstate downs NJIT 75-65. (Jan 7, 2017)

Published Jan. 7, 2017 4:19 p.m. ET

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) Michael Buchanan scored 24 points and tied his career high with 15 rebounds for his ninth double-double this season and South Carolina Upstate won its fourth straight, opening Atlantic Sun play with a 75-65 win over NJIT on Saturday.

Mike Cunningham added 13 points and Josh Cuthbertson 12 for the Spartans (11-7).

Deion Holmes' 3-pointer at the 7:44 mark of the first half put the Spartans in front for good 22-21 and started a 16-2 run. Jure Span's 3-point play and Cunningham's 3-pointer at 2:08 made it 35-23.

Cunningham's 3 to open the second half made it 40-30 and but the Highlanders kept battling back. Tim Coleman's 3-point play brought the Highlanders within 66-63 with 2:04 to go but Ramel Thompkins answered with a 3. Mohamed Bendary made a layup for NJIT and the Highlanders missed their final six shots.

Coleman scored 16 points and Abdul Lewis 15 for NJIT (8-9), which had a three-game winning streak snapped, and both had 10 rebounds.