Madison Square Garden–The Pirates have won seven of its last 10 games against St. Johns in a series that dates to 1909.
SHU is on a seven-game win streak, the longest in the Big East and the fifth-longest in the nation behind San Diego State (18), Baylor (13), Gonzaga (10), and Florida State (8).
The Hall is coming off of its second road win over an AP top-five team in program history with its 75-70 victory at No.5 Butler on Wednesday.
The two teams split the season series last year with both teams winning on their home courts. The last five games in the series have been decided by eight points or less.
Seton Hall is now 16-11 all-time under Willard at Madison Square Garden.
The Red Storm looks to remain undefeated at Madison Square Garden in 2019-20. The Johnnies defeated West Virginia, now ranked No.12, on Dec. 7 before beating Depaul for the team’s lone Big East win on Jan. 11.
Senior Myles Powell needed only seven points in becoming the Pirates’ fifth 2,000-point scorer, he did that he grandiose fashion and joins the company of (Greg Tynes, Jeremy Hazell, Nick Werkman, and Terry Dehere).
“This is what I came back my senior year for, the great teammates I have and the great coaching staff I have,” Myles Powell said. “I’m blessed to be in this situation, thankful for everything that’s come my way, and we’re going to continue to keep playing Seton Hall basketball and keep getting wins, because that’s all that matters at this point.”
Led by Myles Powell 29 points and Quincy McKnight 20 points and five assists the Pirates beat St. Johns 82-79 at the “World Famous Arena” in front of 10,428.
“Everybody is playing their role right now and that’s what’s making us so good,” Quincy McKnight said. “Nobody is forcing the issue. Everybody is just doing what they do.”
The Red Storm was lead by LJ Figueroa and Mustapha Heron who both scored 10 points apiece in the first half.
At the 2:18 mark, the Johnnies made 5-0 run and stretched the lead to 37-28 to put the Pirates on their heels for a minute.
In the first half, the Johnnies shot 48.7% (19-39) from the floor and had 18 points in the paint area which helped them to take a 43-30 lead into the break.
Powell scored his 2,000th point on a layup after Jared Rhoden forced a turnover and passed it down the court to the racing Powell. The game was back-and-forth for the last three minutes of play until Powell gave the Pirates the lead for good with 1:38 left on the clock, plowing through the lane and getting fouled. Powell sunk the ensuing free throw.
The Pirates wanted to make sure if they were going down they wanted to go down with the ball in their best player in the country taking the shot.
St.Johns Mustapha Heron had 18 points with Josh Roberts and LJ Figueroa chipping in 16 points apiece.
“I’ve seen this guy since his freshman year in the NCAA Tournament,” St. John’s coach Mike Anderson said of (Powell). “He’s gotten better and he’s stepped up when his team needed him to.”
Game Notes:
- Seton Hall shot 44.3 percent for the game (27-for-61), 42.9 percent from three (6-for-14) and 81.5 percent from the free-throw line (22-for-27). The Pirates shot 53.1 percent in the second half, compared to only 34.5 percent from downtown.
- St. John’s shot 44 percent for the game (33-for-75), 28.6 percent from three (4-for-14) and 60 percent at the free throws (9-for-15).
- Seton Hall out-rebounded St. John’s 46-37.
- Gill posted his second career double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds and tied a career-high in blocks with six. He has scored in double figures five straight games after only reaching double figures once in his career prior.
- The Pirates are now 6-0 in the BIG EAST and 4-0 in BIG EAST road games for the first time ever. Only 10 times in the first 40 seasons of the BIG EAST has SHU finished a conference season with four or more road wins.
