College Basketball
Pirates Pillaged a Win
The Seton Hall Pirates came into last night’s contest fresh off of a three-game losing streak. As a result, their match-up against the #16 ranked Marquette Golden Eagles was a MUST WIN.
The Pirates pillaged a win versus the Golden Eagles in dramatic fashion with a final score of 73-64. With under 10 minutes to go in the second half, Marquette’s lead ballooned to 13 points. Fans inside the Prudential Center watched as Seton Hall’s tournament dreams began fading away. Coach Kevin Willard’s Pirates had other plans as they ended the game on 24-9 run, including an 18-0 dash to the finish line.
Tale of Two Halves
From the onset, Marquette was able to impose its will, jumping out to a 37-31 halftime lead. The Golden Eagles shot a red hot 48% for the half while the Pirates struggled to find any offensive rhythm, going 1-11 (9%) from 3-point land. The tide turned in the second half as Seton Hall was able to get to the basket at will, shooting a stellar 52% from the field. As a result of the Pirates constant offensive pressure, they enjoyed a 42-20 points advantage in the paint!
Defense to the Rescue
In the early portion of the second half, it looked as if the Golden Eagles would coast to the finish line. However, a spirited Pirates team was able to force Marquette into 18 turnovers. Even more important was the ability to convert those costly turnovers into 25 points.
Quincy McKnight’s defensive efforts, in particular, should be pointed out and applauded. McKnight’s task was to stop Markus Howard, who is the leading scorer in the Big East at 25 points per game. McKnight put the clamps on Howard, who finished the night with six points to go along with five turnovers.
Player of the Game
Seton Hall guard Myles Powell was responsible for over 60% of the Pirates total offense. The Junior guard posted 34 points, five rebounds to go along with five assists. With 2:25 left in regulation, Powell raced up the court in transition with the game tied at 64. He proceeded to square up the defender and hit a dagger three from about 26 feet out!
Moving Forward
Seton Hall looked like anything but a lock to make the NCAA tournament at the beginning of this week. Now, the Pirates are staring at a closeout game against #23 Villanova. If the Pirates want to be sure they get a call to the big dance then punching a win against the Wildcats is a must.
Marquette will be participating in the NCAA tournament. The only question is what seed the Golden Eagles will garner. It would be in their best interest to finish out the regular season strong and make a deep run in the Big East Tournament.
Follow us on YouTube and Twitter
Photo Credit
@SetonHallMBB via Twitter
