PirateCrew: Seton Hall Pirates Football & Basketball Recruiting
The definitive source for all PirateCrew news.
By JP Pelzman
Kevin Willard had talked for weeks about utilizing guards Kadary Richmond and Bryce Aiken on the court at the same time. The absence of injured Myles Cale made that more feasible Wednesday night against underdog California.
In fact, it proved to be a necessity.
Both Richmond and Aiken made clutch shots in the final minutes as No. 21 Seton Hall turned back the Golden Bears’ upset bid and made the turkey taste a little less bitter by holding on for a 62-59 victory in the consolation game of the Fort Myers Tip-Off in Fort Myers, Fla.
Granted, the Pirates (4-1) will fall out of the Associated Press rankings after this cameo appearance--especially with Michigan continuing to struggle--but a loss to expected Pac-12 bottom-feeder Cal (2-4) would have been nothing short of disastrous for The Hall.
“I have a lot of confidence in Bryce and Kadary. They're two smart basketball players,” Willard said in his postgame radio interview with Gary Cohen and Dave Popkin on WMCA AM 570.
They also were clutch late in the game as The Hall erased a surprising late five-point deficit. After Jared Rhoden made one of two foul shots to make it 56-52, Cal’s Grant Anticevich turned the ball over. Aiken was fouled and made both free throws to cut the deficit to 56-54 with 3:36 to go.
Cal then missed two second-chance shots after an Ike Obiagu block and Aiken nailed a deep straightaway trey for a 57-56 lead with 2:33 left.
Then things really got interesting.
Two foul shots by Andre Kelly put the Golden Bears back in front, but Richmond’s bank shot gave The Hall a 59-58 lead. Anticevich and Alexis Yetna each went 1-for-2 at the foul line, and Seton Hall led 60-59 in the final minute.
Richmond then tried to back down Charlotte transfer Jordan Shepherd, and although Richmond definitely led with his elbow, Shepherd's flop was worthy of European soccer. Still, the charge gave Cal the ball. Anticevich, who scored 25 points, was wide open--but missed from three. Rhoden got the rebound and made both free throws for a 62-59 lead.
“They ran a great play,” Willard said. “(Our) staff called it and we didn’t defend it the right way. Luckily, he missed it.”
After Rhoden’s makes, Willard chose to foul, something he doesn’t always do. What influenced his decision is the fact that California’s Joel Brown, who also handles the ball for his team, came in shooting 5-for-14 from the line. Sure enough, he missed the front end of the one-and-one and The Hall survived.
Willard appreciated the Seton Hall contingent that filled one section of the otherwise mostly empty Suncoast Credit Union Arena.
“Our fans were great,” Willard said. “Our fans gave us a real boost at times on the defensive end.”
Rhoden scored 21 points and Richmond added 12 for his second double-figure scoring game as a Pirate. He had 13 in the blowout over Yale on Nov. 14. Kelly led all scorers with 23 for the Golden Bears.
