Pirates Stumble Against Butler Despite Late Charge - Seton Hall University Athletics
Despite a late charge, the Seton Hall men's basketball team fell to Butler, 82-77.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN. — Despite a late charge, the Seton Hall men's basketball team fell to Butler, 82-77, on Wednesday evening inside Hinkle Fieldhouse.
For the Pirates (6-11, 1-5 BIG EAST), Chaunce Jenkins led the team with 21 points (7-of-12 from the field). The Bulldogs (8-10, 1-6 BIG EAST) grabbed 31 rebounds and assisted on 17 baskets, while Seton Hall only grabbed 24 total rebounds and assisted on nine baskets.
How It Happened
For the opening minutes of the game, the Pirates' offense was out of sorts without regular starter Dylan Addae-Wusu, who was unavailable due to a foot injury. Despite The Hall quickly falling down 6-1, the team quickly came back through the continued strong play of Prince Aligbe. Aligbe, who is averaging 17.5 points over his last two games, contributed six points on an 8-to-2 run to put The Hall in front, 9-8, with 14:26 remaining in the half.
Despite the Pirates run, the Bulldogs would not relent. In quick fashion, Butler went on a 9-to-1 run of their own, powered by a pair of threes, to regain the lead, 17-9, with 13:08 remaining in the game. Undeterred, the Pirates received a boost thanks to the help of Chaunce Jenkins. Fresh off a 17-point game, Jenkins would add seven points of his own on a 10-to-6 Pirates run to reduce the deficit to 2, 21-19, exactly as the clock struck the midway point of the first half. Yet again, however, the Bulldogs went on another run to extend their lead to as many as nine points. The Pirates would cut it to as few as four points before the half, but a late jumper by Butler would send The Hall to the break facing a six-point deficit, 41-35.
Despite Butler growing their lead to nine out of halftime, the Pirates kept it a two-possession game through the early stages of the half thanks in large part to strong play from Aligbe and Isaiah Coleman. Midway through the half, however, the Pirates deficit grew to 13, 65-52, with 10:13 remaining in the half after Butler's Andre Screen rattled off 11 points before returning to the bench. With the majority of the Pirates front court now in foul trouble, the Pirates needed their backcourt to help push them back into the game.
As the clock approached five minutes remaining, The Hall was still down 11, 71-60, and looking for a spark to ignite the offense. That spark came in the form of Scotty Middleton and Jahseem Felton. Middleton added two three-pointers, while Felton added one three-pointer and two assists, on a 13-3 Pirates run that cut the deficit down to 2, 74-72, with 2:03 remaining in the game. Despite continued attempts to tie the game or regain the lead, the Pirates would not find a basket until the waning seconds of the half. As a result, The Hall fell to Butler 82-77.
News & Notes
- This is the 25th meeting between the two BIG EAST institutions.
- With the loss, the Pirates move to 14-11 all-time against the Bulldogs and the loss snapped The Hall's six-game winning streak over Butler.
- The Pirates outscored the Bulldogs in the paint 30-to-26.
- Seton Hall had 12 fast-break points to Butler's 4.
- With 21 points tonight, Jenkins recorded his 40th career 15+ point game.
- With seven rebounds tonight, Yacine Toumi tied his season-high single game total.
- With 11 points tonight, Coleman recorded his eighth-straight game with double-digit points.
- Middleton finished a perfect 4-of-4 from the field, all coming behind the three-point line.
Up Next
The Pirates will return to action on Saturday, January 18, when St. John's travels to the Prudential Center, to face The Hall in a heated BIG EAST clash at 8 p.m. The game will be broadcast on FS1.
