Prudential Center-Seton Hall is 12-2 at the Prudential Center this season and 156-69 all-time (.691). Would it be a magic night for the Pirates on senior night? The answer would be Yes!
Meeting for the 115th time on Wednesday, Georgetown is the Pirates’ second-most frequent foe. Although the Hoyas lead the series, SHU has won 11 of the last 15 contests. Coach Kevin Williard is now 15-8 all-time against Georgetown.
Seton Hall has now won the last seven games against the Hoyas at the Rock. The Pirates improve to 2-0 against the Hoyas this season. The Hall defeated Georgetown 70-63 on Feb. 1.
Jared Rhoden scored 16 points, Jamir Harris and Kadary Richmond both chipped in 12 points with Richmond dishing out ten assists, and helped the Pirates (19-9,10-8) beat Georgetown (6-22, 0-18) 73-68 at the Prudential in front of a crowd of 9,635.
At the half, Seton Hall took a 42-36 lead with Jared Rhoden and Myles Cale leading the way with seven points apiece.
“We are a mature team with six seniors so we are use to these barn burner games. The last few games was close and come to embrace these types of games. It only going to help us during tournament time.” Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard said.
In the second half, the Hoyas gave the Pirates a fight, cutting the SHU lead to one point, 48-47 at the 14:21 mark in the second. A rim rocker dunk by Myles Cale ignited an 8-2 spurt and made it a seven-point game, 56-49. The Hoyas had a difficult time finishing around the hoop and gave Seton Hall plenty of chances to extend their lead. SHU allowed only one field goal from from the 12:56 mark to the 6:11 point in the second half.
Seton Hall led by two points with 28 seconds left but three made free throws by Rhoden put the game on ice.
Hoyas Kaiden Rice was on fire in the first half scoring 17 quick points but in the second the Pirates switched to a more conventional zone oriented defense in which Rice and his fellow teammates had a difficult time shooting over the top of it.
Rice finished the contest with 17 points for Georgetown, who have now lost 19 straight games. Collin Holloway added 16 points. Dante Harris chipped in 12 points and six assists.
The Pirates outrebounded the Hoyas to a tune of 20-15 and limit Georgetown second chance shots. But the difference of the game was Hall play in the paint scoring 42 to the Hoyas 26.
Georgetown is in jeopardy of finishing without a Big East conference win, a stunning development for a program that was a powerhouse during the inception of the conference during the 1980s and made three appearances in the Final Four over four seasons, winning the NCAA title in 1984.
UP NEXT:
Seton Hall plays an away game against Creighton Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
Georgetown plays away game as well against Xavier Saturday at 7 p.m.