Can this be a bridge to further success? Let's see what the top 20 has to say.

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. — With a defensive effort that South Orange hadn't seen in over 75 years, the Seton Hall men's basketball team defeated Wagner, 54-28, in their final regular season game scheduled in historic Walsh Gymnasium.

Chaunce Jenkins lead the Pirates once again with 16 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the floor (3-5 from three) for the Pirates (2-2), while also providing a season-high four assists. The Seahawks (1-3) struggled mightily from the field (11-of-46), while Pirates produced their best shooting day of the season (45.5% from the field, 44.4% from three).

How It Happened

In the opening minutes, Wagner came out of the gate netting their first two shots and quickly finding themselves with a 5-0 lead after less than 90 seconds. The Pirates refused to let the Seahawks establish a lead for long, however. After streaking across the baseline, Yacine Toumi converted a baseline run into a nifty layup, igniting the Pirates offense. Toumi would contribute seven points on a 14-7 Pirates run, giving The Hall a 14-12 lead with 9:31 remaining in the half.

As the half came to a close the Pirates' stifling defense suffocated Wagner over the final 10 minutes. The Hall held Wagner to 1-10 shooting from the field scoreless for 9:28 until the Seahawks scored with 28 seconds remaining to make it a 24-14 Pirates lead. The Pirates entered the half with a 26-14 after going on a 12-4 run over the final ten minutes, with six points coming from a pair of Chaunce Jenkins threes.


Login to view embedded media

With 14 total points allowed in the first half, it was the lowest first half total allowed since The Pirates allowed 14 in the first half against Georgetown on February 28, 2004. Without the Wagner score with 28 seconds remaining, it would have been the lowest since the Pirates allowed 11 points in the first half against Liberty on November 29, 2003.
Through the first ten minutes of the second half, the Pirates continued to dominate on both ends of the floor in the same manner they did at the end of the first half. Through ten minutes, the Pirates expanded their lead to 40-20 thanks to a 14-4 run largely scoring by committee. During that run, Emmanuel Okorafor scored his first points of the season in his season debut on a dunk with 13:52 remaining.

With nine minutes remaining, Wagner attempted a comeback after putting together a quick 5-2 run, but the Pirates' size and length stifled the Staten Island school before they could do any more damage. Isaiah Coleman scored seven points in the final nine minutes as the Pirates held the Wagner to eight points during that same timespan, securing a 54-28 victory. The 28 total points allowed was the lowest total allowed in over 75 years, with the last time the Pirates allowed 28 points being their 51-28 victory over Panzer College in 1947. Later in that season, the Pirates would allow even fewer points when they defeated Rider 32-20 on February 17, 1947.

News & Notes

• This was the 36th meeting all-time between the two programs, with the Pirates now holding a 30-6 all-time against Wagner.
• The Hall allowed 14 total points allowed in the first half. The last time the Pirates allowed 14 points in the first half was against Georgetown on February 28, 2004. The Pirates also allowed 11 points in the first half against Liberty on November 29, 2003 that same season. The Pirates won both games
• The last time the Pirates allowed 28 total points allowed was their 51-28 victory over Panzer College on January 30, 1947. They would allow even fewer points when they defeated Rider 32-20 on February 17, 1947 that same season.
• The Hall out-rebounded Wagner 33-26.
• The Pirates out-scored Wagner 20-14 in the paint.
• Toumi now has 21 career-double figure scoring games.
• Jenkins now has 53 career double-figure scoring games and three this season.
• With five rebounds on Wednesday, Dylan Addae-Wusu is up to 22 career games with Seton Hall having five or more rebounds.

Up Next
The Pirates will travel to Charleston, South Carolina, on Thursday, November 21, to take on VCU in the first game Charleston Classic at 5:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.