NEWARK, N.J.–Quincy McKnight scored a season-high 17 points as Seton Hall used an attacking defense and huge frontcourt, to stun No. 7 Maryland 52-48 Thursday night in front 13,313 at the Prudential Center.
Seton Hall is 3-2 all-time against Maryland. The Two programs first met on Dec 5, 1912, which was only the sixth season in Seton Hall basketball history.
The Pirates (7-4) held the Terrapins to 27% shooting, blocked 15 shots and forced 17 turnovers in ending a two-game losing streak and handing Maryland (10-2) its second straight loss.
“Today we proved to everyone we can still play and we got a good win. This is a confidence booster to everyone on the court today.” McKnight commented after the game.
The Pirates slowed the tempo down in the second half and seemed to be in cruise control when guard Anthony Nelson scored on a layup for a 49-42 lead with a little over a minute to play in the contest. SHU missed three free throws and turned the ball over which set up Anthony Cowan Jr. to hit a long 3-pointer to tie the game with 22 tics on the clock.
Cowan missed, and Seton Hall got the rebound and made a free throw to put the game away.
Seton Hall won without Big East Conference preseason player of the year Myles Powell (concussion) and power forward Sando Mamukelashvili (broken wrist).
“This was a big program win for us. That’s all coach (Kevin Willard) kept reiterating to us at practice all week, that we lost two of our star players and guys had to step up. It was a collective win.” Forward Jared Rhoden said.
Cowan led the Terapins with 16 points on 3-of-14 shooting. Jalen Smith and Aaron Wiggins added 11 points apiece.
Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said we just didn’t play well.
“That said, we had the ball down three on the road and had a chance,” Turgeon said “The world is not coming to an end, but we are highly disappointed as a coaching staff and as a team. Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom. I don’t know if it is rock bottom. We’ll see. If it is, hopefully we’ll come back and get better.”
The defense and ball pressure on the perimeter was the difference for the Pirates, which got eight points and 12 rebounds from Jared Rhoden on the blocks.
Maryland trailed 27-18 at halftime with their lowest scoring output in the first half this season. They come into this game averaging 77.1 points per game.
“We’re not playing with a lot of confidence now. I have to figure out ways to give our guys confidence because we don’t look like the same team we were three weeks ago.” Turgeon said.
UP NEXT:
Maryland: Hosts Bryant on Dec. 29 in final nonconference game.
Seton Hall: Hosts Prairie View A&M on Sunday in final tuneup for Big East Conference schedule.
