Pirates back in action Saturday at home vs. Creighton at 2 p.m.
Isaiah Whitehead
Jan. 6, 2016
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Box Score (PDF)
| TICKETS TO SATURDAY VS. CREIGHTON
Villanova, Pa. - Sophomore Isaiah Whitehead (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored 20 points, and the Seton Hall men’s basketball defense held Villanova to 36.2 percent shooting, but the Wildcats were sharp at the free throw line, making 26 of 32 free throws in a 72-63 win over the Pirates Wednesday at The Pavilion.
The defeat snaps a seven-game Seton Hall (12-3, 2-1 BIG EAST) winning streak. The Pirates had not suffered a loss since Dec. 2, a span of 35 days. Villanova (13-2, 3-0 BIG EAST) has now won 35 straight games at The Pavilion and is alone in first place in the BIG EAST. The Pirates are in a three-way tie for second place.
In addition to Whitehead, sophomore Khadeen Carrington (Brooklyn, N.Y.) reached double-figure scoring with 14 points. Senior Derrick Gordon (Plainfield, N.J.) nearly turned in a double-double with eight points and 10 rebounds.
Turning Point
After a very defensive first half that saw the two teams shoot poorly and commit a combined 16 turnovers, the Pirates found the run they were looking for, turning a 13-point deficit into a 2-point one with a 17-6 run that spanned nearly six minutes. Whitehead was at the forefront, hitting a layup in traffic at 16:16 and burying a three-pointer at 15:16 to pull The Hall to within five, 38-33.
Then it was freshman Veer Singh’s turn for the heroic. After Villanova went ahead again by seven, it was Singh’s three-pointer in the corner that cut the lead to two, 42-40, with 11:46 to play.
With momentum on their side, the Pirates were unable to capitalize as the Wildcats began to take advantage of Hall foul trouble. The Pirates were whistled for two consecutive fouls, and Villanova converted all four free throws to go back up six.
Seton Hall had one more chance as Carrington hit a big jumper at 9:28 to again pull within three, 48-45, but the Wildcats’ prowess on the offensive glass and the free throw line proved too much. Villanova’s Daniel Ochefu tipped in his own miss, one of 18 offensive rebounds for ‘Nova, and the Wildcats then went to the line and sank five consecutive free throws to go back up 10. The Pirates went cold, making just five field goals in the final nine minutes.
Inside the Numbers
Seton Hall is back at home this Saturday, Jan. 9 when the Pirates host Creighton at Prudential Center at 2 p.m. The game will be nationally televised on FS1, and Gary Cohen and Dave Popkin will have the call on AM970 The Answer, simulcast on the Pirate Sports Network through SHUPirates.com. For tickets, visit Ticketmaster or call (973) 275-HALL.
Pirate Men's Basketball Home
http://www.shupirates.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/010616aaa.html
Isaiah Whitehead
Jan. 6, 2016
Box Score | USATSI Photo Gallery
Box Score (PDF)
| TICKETS TO SATURDAY VS. CREIGHTONVillanova, Pa. - Sophomore Isaiah Whitehead (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored 20 points, and the Seton Hall men’s basketball defense held Villanova to 36.2 percent shooting, but the Wildcats were sharp at the free throw line, making 26 of 32 free throws in a 72-63 win over the Pirates Wednesday at The Pavilion.
The defeat snaps a seven-game Seton Hall (12-3, 2-1 BIG EAST) winning streak. The Pirates had not suffered a loss since Dec. 2, a span of 35 days. Villanova (13-2, 3-0 BIG EAST) has now won 35 straight games at The Pavilion and is alone in first place in the BIG EAST. The Pirates are in a three-way tie for second place.
In addition to Whitehead, sophomore Khadeen Carrington (Brooklyn, N.Y.) reached double-figure scoring with 14 points. Senior Derrick Gordon (Plainfield, N.J.) nearly turned in a double-double with eight points and 10 rebounds.
Turning Point
After a very defensive first half that saw the two teams shoot poorly and commit a combined 16 turnovers, the Pirates found the run they were looking for, turning a 13-point deficit into a 2-point one with a 17-6 run that spanned nearly six minutes. Whitehead was at the forefront, hitting a layup in traffic at 16:16 and burying a three-pointer at 15:16 to pull The Hall to within five, 38-33.
Then it was freshman Veer Singh’s turn for the heroic. After Villanova went ahead again by seven, it was Singh’s three-pointer in the corner that cut the lead to two, 42-40, with 11:46 to play.
With momentum on their side, the Pirates were unable to capitalize as the Wildcats began to take advantage of Hall foul trouble. The Pirates were whistled for two consecutive fouls, and Villanova converted all four free throws to go back up six.
Seton Hall had one more chance as Carrington hit a big jumper at 9:28 to again pull within three, 48-45, but the Wildcats’ prowess on the offensive glass and the free throw line proved too much. Villanova’s Daniel Ochefu tipped in his own miss, one of 18 offensive rebounds for ‘Nova, and the Wildcats then went to the line and sank five consecutive free throws to go back up 10. The Pirates went cold, making just five field goals in the final nine minutes.
Inside the Numbers
- Seton Hall shot 35.6 percent for the game, the first time this season it was held under 40 percent. The Pirates’ defense held Villanova to 36.2 percent shooting, the third time this season the Wildcats were held under 40 percent.
- The Pirates were out-rebounded, 47-39, and Villanova converted 18 offensive rebounds into 21 second chance points.
- Whitehead’s 20-point night was his fifth 20-point effort of the season. He made a trifecta of three-pointers in the game to match a season high.
- Carrington’s 14-point game gave him double-digit scoring for the 13th time in 15 games this season.
- Gordon’s near double-double of eight points and 10 rebounds was complemented by three assists and two steals. The 10 rebounds are a season high, and he’s the sixth Pirate this season to grab at least 10 caroms in a game.
- Sophomore Angel Delgado (Bajos De Haina, Dominican Republic) was limited to four points and four rebounds, snapping a streak of seven straight double-doubles, the longest SHU streak since Eddie Griffin had 10 in 2000-01.
- The Pirates had an opportunity to start 3-0 in BIG EAST play for the first time since 1998-99. Instead they are 2-1 for the second consecutive season.
- Villanova is Seton Hall’s most common opponent of all time. This was the 108th meeting between the two teams.
Seton Hall is back at home this Saturday, Jan. 9 when the Pirates host Creighton at Prudential Center at 2 p.m. The game will be nationally televised on FS1, and Gary Cohen and Dave Popkin will have the call on AM970 The Answer, simulcast on the Pirate Sports Network through SHUPirates.com. For tickets, visit Ticketmaster or call (973) 275-HALL.
Pirate Men's Basketball Home
http://www.shupirates.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/010616aaa.html
