All five Pirates starters score in double-figures as SHU wins its 12th-straight non-conference home game
Dec. 10, 2015
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NEWARK, N.J. - Sophomore Isaiah Whitehead (Brooklyn, N.Y.) delivered a team-high 20 points and handed out seven assists and classmate Desi Rodriguez (Bronx, N.Y.).turned in a career night to lead a balanced performance in which all five Seton Hall starters scored in double-figures to power a 78-69 victory over Troy on Thursday night at Prudential Center.
While the second-year standout Whitehead turned in his sixth team-leading scoring performance of the season The Hall (7-2) asserted its dominance over the Trojans (4-5) on the inside behind a pair of double-doubles from Angel Delgado (Bajos De Haina, Dominican Republic) and Rodriguez.
Delgado recorded 12 points and 11 boards while Rodriguez matched career-highs with 18 points and 11 rebounds of his own; five of which came on the offensive end. "Dunkin' Desi" was in attack mode en route to the first double-double of his career, punishing the rim with several highlight-reel slams in the victory.
Fellow sophomore Khadeen Carrington (Brooklyn, N.Y.) chipped in 11 points and four dimes with only one turnover while Michael Nzei (Makurdi, Nigeria) registered 10 points and five boards in his second-straight start.
Overall, Delgado, Rodriguez and Nzei combined for 13 offensive rebounds as The Hall out-rebounded Troy, 47-to-34, overall on the night.
The first half featured a series of runs as an early 11-0 spurt by the Pirates was followed by 13 unanswered for the Trojans but it was SHU who had the final say going into the break and never looked back.
Head Coach Kevin Willard on the development of Desi Rodriguez:
"The thing about putting him [on the wing] is it has given him a chance to get some offensive rebounds and opportunities to get on the break against smaller guys. With the way he's been shooting, the position change has been really helpful because it also gives us another rebounder we didn't have last year...His overall perimeter game has improved tremendously. Most of that was done in the summer, where he worked hard knowing he was going to make that transition."
Turning Point
Facing their largest deficit of the night at 27-19 with 7:13 remaining in the first half, the Pirates forced Troy to misfire on 10 of their final 11 shots in the period while rattling off a 17-3 run that included the final 10 points prior to halftime.
The Trojans never pulled closer than five points in the second half.
Inside the Numbers
- Thursday marked the first time that as many as five Pirates have scored in double-figures since a 90-82 victory over Xavier on January 31, 2014 (19 games)
- The 20-point performance was Whitehead's third of the season; matching his total from 19 appearances during his freshman campaign
- The Brooklyn native scored 10 points in each half and has now scored in double-figures in a single half eight times this season. In a 22-point performance against Georgia and on Thursday against Troy, he scored at least 10 in both halves.
- Whitehead's seven assists are also his highest total in a game where he has scored 20+ as he played a direct role in 13 of the team's 26 field goals on the night
- Delgado recorded his second-straight double-double and his third of the season to push his career total to 13 through 40 appearances. His efforts against Rutgers (14 pts, 13 reb.) and Troy mark the second time in his career that he has posted a double-double in two-straight outings
- Last season's BIG EAST rebounding champion, Delgado has also pulled down at least 10 boards in five consecutive contests
- Rodriguez notched the first double-double of his career; matching a career-high in scoring previously set against Bradley earlier this season (November 20) and also tied a career-high in rebounding, with his third 11-rebound performance as a Pirate.
- Seton Hall has now had a pair of double-doubles in consecutive outings after Delgado and Nzei accomplished the feat in a Garden State Hardwood Classic victory at Rutgers Saturday
- Carrington leads the Pirates with eight double-digit scoring performances on the year and has totaled 10 points or more in each of the last seven games
- Nzei posted his fifth 5+-rebound effort of the season, three of which came in a reserve role prior to his insertion in the starting lineup for the last two. In those two starts, the redshirt freshman is averaging 11.5 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting 9-of-13 from the floor
\- The Pirates have now totaled 100 rebounds over the last two games after hauling in a season-high 53 at Rutgers and have out-rebounded their opponents by 38 in the last two outings
- The Hall closed the first half on a 10-0 run to take a 36-30 lead into the break. It was the Pirates' second double-digit run of the period after recording 11 unanswered points to answer the opening basket of the game from Troy
- The starting five of Whitehead, Carrington, Rodriguez Nzei and Delgado accounted for 71 of the team's 78 points for the game
- The Pirates finished with a season-low nine turnovers; resulting in a 13-to-6 advantage in points off giveaways
- SHU has finished 40 percent or better from the field in all nine games this season
News & Notes
- Seton Hall is a perfect 5-0 when leading at halftime this season and is 19-2 when ahead at the break dating back to the beginning of last season
- The Hall has now won its last 12 non-conference home games and is 32-4 at home against non-BIG EAST foes under Kevin Willard
-Ranked second in the BIG EAST in scoring defense entering the night, The Hall improved to 20-5 (.800) over the last two seasons when allowing 69 points or less
- Thursday's matchup marked the first all-time meeting between the two programs and just the second between The Hall and a current Sun Belt Conference team (2-0)
Up Next
The Pirates will continue a four-game homestand that will lead into BIG EAST play with the second installment coming on Sunday, December 13 when Saint Peter's visits Prudential Center. Start-time is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. with FS1 serving as the television home. The Seton Hall radio team of Gary Cohen and Dave Popkin will have the call for 570AM (WMCA) and can be heard nationally through the Pirate Sports Network on SHUPirates.com. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster or the Seton Hall Athletics tickets office by calling (973) 275-HALL.
Pirate Men's Basketball Home
http://www.shupirates.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/121115aaa.html
Dec. 10, 2015
Box Score | Photo Gallery
Box Score (PDF)
NEWARK, N.J. - Sophomore Isaiah Whitehead (Brooklyn, N.Y.) delivered a team-high 20 points and handed out seven assists and classmate Desi Rodriguez (Bronx, N.Y.).turned in a career night to lead a balanced performance in which all five Seton Hall starters scored in double-figures to power a 78-69 victory over Troy on Thursday night at Prudential Center.
While the second-year standout Whitehead turned in his sixth team-leading scoring performance of the season The Hall (7-2) asserted its dominance over the Trojans (4-5) on the inside behind a pair of double-doubles from Angel Delgado (Bajos De Haina, Dominican Republic) and Rodriguez.
Delgado recorded 12 points and 11 boards while Rodriguez matched career-highs with 18 points and 11 rebounds of his own; five of which came on the offensive end. "Dunkin' Desi" was in attack mode en route to the first double-double of his career, punishing the rim with several highlight-reel slams in the victory.
Fellow sophomore Khadeen Carrington (Brooklyn, N.Y.) chipped in 11 points and four dimes with only one turnover while Michael Nzei (Makurdi, Nigeria) registered 10 points and five boards in his second-straight start.
Overall, Delgado, Rodriguez and Nzei combined for 13 offensive rebounds as The Hall out-rebounded Troy, 47-to-34, overall on the night.
The first half featured a series of runs as an early 11-0 spurt by the Pirates was followed by 13 unanswered for the Trojans but it was SHU who had the final say going into the break and never looked back.
Head Coach Kevin Willard on the development of Desi Rodriguez:
"The thing about putting him [on the wing] is it has given him a chance to get some offensive rebounds and opportunities to get on the break against smaller guys. With the way he's been shooting, the position change has been really helpful because it also gives us another rebounder we didn't have last year...His overall perimeter game has improved tremendously. Most of that was done in the summer, where he worked hard knowing he was going to make that transition."
Turning Point
Facing their largest deficit of the night at 27-19 with 7:13 remaining in the first half, the Pirates forced Troy to misfire on 10 of their final 11 shots in the period while rattling off a 17-3 run that included the final 10 points prior to halftime.
The Trojans never pulled closer than five points in the second half.
Inside the Numbers
- Thursday marked the first time that as many as five Pirates have scored in double-figures since a 90-82 victory over Xavier on January 31, 2014 (19 games)
- The 20-point performance was Whitehead's third of the season; matching his total from 19 appearances during his freshman campaign
- The Brooklyn native scored 10 points in each half and has now scored in double-figures in a single half eight times this season. In a 22-point performance against Georgia and on Thursday against Troy, he scored at least 10 in both halves.
- Whitehead's seven assists are also his highest total in a game where he has scored 20+ as he played a direct role in 13 of the team's 26 field goals on the night
- Delgado recorded his second-straight double-double and his third of the season to push his career total to 13 through 40 appearances. His efforts against Rutgers (14 pts, 13 reb.) and Troy mark the second time in his career that he has posted a double-double in two-straight outings
- Last season's BIG EAST rebounding champion, Delgado has also pulled down at least 10 boards in five consecutive contests
- Rodriguez notched the first double-double of his career; matching a career-high in scoring previously set against Bradley earlier this season (November 20) and also tied a career-high in rebounding, with his third 11-rebound performance as a Pirate.
- Seton Hall has now had a pair of double-doubles in consecutive outings after Delgado and Nzei accomplished the feat in a Garden State Hardwood Classic victory at Rutgers Saturday
- Carrington leads the Pirates with eight double-digit scoring performances on the year and has totaled 10 points or more in each of the last seven games
- Nzei posted his fifth 5+-rebound effort of the season, three of which came in a reserve role prior to his insertion in the starting lineup for the last two. In those two starts, the redshirt freshman is averaging 11.5 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting 9-of-13 from the floor
\- The Pirates have now totaled 100 rebounds over the last two games after hauling in a season-high 53 at Rutgers and have out-rebounded their opponents by 38 in the last two outings
- The Hall closed the first half on a 10-0 run to take a 36-30 lead into the break. It was the Pirates' second double-digit run of the period after recording 11 unanswered points to answer the opening basket of the game from Troy
- The starting five of Whitehead, Carrington, Rodriguez Nzei and Delgado accounted for 71 of the team's 78 points for the game
- The Pirates finished with a season-low nine turnovers; resulting in a 13-to-6 advantage in points off giveaways
- SHU has finished 40 percent or better from the field in all nine games this season
News & Notes
- Seton Hall is a perfect 5-0 when leading at halftime this season and is 19-2 when ahead at the break dating back to the beginning of last season
- The Hall has now won its last 12 non-conference home games and is 32-4 at home against non-BIG EAST foes under Kevin Willard
-Ranked second in the BIG EAST in scoring defense entering the night, The Hall improved to 20-5 (.800) over the last two seasons when allowing 69 points or less
- Thursday's matchup marked the first all-time meeting between the two programs and just the second between The Hall and a current Sun Belt Conference team (2-0)
Up Next
The Pirates will continue a four-game homestand that will lead into BIG EAST play with the second installment coming on Sunday, December 13 when Saint Peter's visits Prudential Center. Start-time is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. with FS1 serving as the television home. The Seton Hall radio team of Gary Cohen and Dave Popkin will have the call for 570AM (WMCA) and can be heard nationally through the Pirate Sports Network on SHUPirates.com. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster or the Seton Hall Athletics tickets office by calling (973) 275-HALL.
Pirate Men's Basketball Home
http://www.shupirates.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/121115aaa.html
