Newark, NJ–Seton Hall has won three straight contests, including a 71-67 road game at Depaul on Jan. 14, and four of its last five after starting off 0-3 in Big East competition.
This is one of the oldest series in Huskies basketball history, the series against the Pirates dates back to 1917 and includes 68 games. The Huskies are now 46-20 overall against Seton Hall as Big East foes, 18-12 in games at Seton Hall and 5-3 against the Pirates at their current home, the Prudential Center.
Seton Hall (12-8, 5-4 Big East) beat UConn (16-5, 4-5 Big East) 67-66 on Wednesday in front of 9,710 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. The first five minutes of the game the Pirates came out flat and gave up too many points in transition.
Kadary Richmond led the way for the Pirates with 18 points and ten boards. KC Ndefo chipped in 14 points with eight rebounds. Al-Amir Dawes kept UConn’s defenders honest on the perimeter finished the game 11.
The Pirates are now 7-2 at the Prudential Center this season and their average margin of victory in Newark is 27.5 points.
UConn came out hot with a 5-0 spurt, got up 17-7 at the 11:56 mark. The Huskies were able to use Adama Sanogo down low for easy buckets early. Sanogo had is way around the rim. Seton Hall didn’t have an answer for Sanogo down low or Jordan Hawkins on the perimeter. UConn was able to build a 32-19 lead at the 3:37 mark in the first half.
UConn went on 9-2 just before the break which gave them a 40-26 advantage going into the locker room with Sanogo leading the Huskies with 10 points and two boards.
In the first half, the Huskies shot 46.9% (15-32) from the floor and 46.7% (7-15) from beyond the arc. The Huskies played an controlled in and out game in the first half kept Seton Hall on roller skates in the half. Hawkins drained timely shots on the perimeter which created space for Sanogo on the blocks.
On the other hand, the Pirates shot 37.0% (10-27) from the hardwood and a dismal 18.2% (2-11) from downtown in the first half, Seton Hall poor shooting was partly due to UConn’s aggressive zone matchup defense.
In the second half, the Pirates went on 7-2 run with a timely three mixed in. Seton Hall trimmed the lead to 48-40 at the 15:52 mark.
Ndefo went into flight with a monster dunk to cut the lead to 48-45 at 14:14, Ndefo bought the crowd to their feet with the rim rocker.
The Pirates wasn’t going away quietly and you sensed an upset brewing in the air. Femi Odukale slammed dunk with authority to trim the lead to 64-63 with 2:02 left on the clock. SHU would take its first lead of the contest on the ensuing possession on a Richmond jump hook in the lane. The Huskies retook the lead when Tristen Newton hit a pair of free throws at the free throws.
Seton Hall KC Ndefo put back layup with 1.6 seconds sealed the game for the Pirates.
Adama Sanogo scored 16 points and five boards for the Huskies. Jordan Hawkin chipped in 13 points with six rebounds.
UConn head coach Dan Hurley and associate head coach Kimani Young were not on the sidelines after both tested positive for the coronavirus, the school announced early Wednesday.
Up Next:
Seton Hall will head on the road to face Marquette on Sunday, Jan 22nd for an 3:00 P.M showdown on FS1.
UConn will host to Butler on Saturday, Jan. 21st for a 12:00 P.M. start on SNY.
