Game Preview: Pirates travel to Maryland to end non-conference season (12/22/18)

Date: December 22, 2018

By Erin Kelly

The Seton Hall Pirates will face their third Big Ten team of the season in College Park as they face the Maryland Terrapins for their last game before conference play.

The Pirates are on a four-game winning streak (8-3 overall) with their last loss coming against Louisville at the Prudential Center Dec. 1. During their four-game winning streak, Seton Hall is shooting 38.2% from behind the arc, a key to their latest victory over Sacred Heart Wednesday.

Sandro Mamukelashvili had a career night in the Pirates 90-76 win over Sacred Heart. The sophomore had a career-high 23 points while shooting 8-of-11 from the floor and grabbed eight rebounds. Mamukelashvili had a career record from behind the arc as well, hitting 4-of-5. Myles Powell, Michael Nzei, and Shavar Reynolds all finished in double digits, while freshman Anthony Nelson led the team and had a career-high eight assists. As a team, the Pirates shot 47.9% from the floor and 31.8% from downtown. The Pirates edged out the Pioneers on the offensive glass 14-to-11 and scored 24 points on 21 turnovers.

Maryland comes into the Xfinity Center with a 9-2 record, and just outside of the top 25. The Terrapins are on a two-game winning streak, with their latest win coming over Loyola (Maryland) on Dec. 11.

In the win, freshman starter Jalen Smith scored a career-high 20 points in 30 minutes, shooting 7-of-13 with eight rebounds and two blocks. The career performance led to Smith picking up his second Big Ten Freshman of the Week award. Maryland had five other players in double digits, including the four other starters. Anthony Cowan Jr. led Maryland with 23 points, going a perfect 4-of-4 from the three and recording five rebounds. Freshman Eric Ayala grabbed six rebounds and assisted on seven baskets. The Terrapins shot 49.5% from the field on 33-of-68, as well as 52.4% from behind the arc and 17-of-19 from the charity stripe. Maryland pulled down 48 boards in the victory, bringing their per game average to 40.7.

The two teams come into the matchup with similar records. Seton Hall is 8-3 while Maryland is 9-2. The Pirates have only played one true away game, a loss to Maryland’s fellow Big Ten team Nebraska Nov. 14. Maryland at home is 7-1, with the one loss coming to then No. 4 Virginia on Nov. 28.

Listeners can hear all the action between the Pirates and the Terrapins on 89.5 FM WSOU and on the iHeartRadio app. Jose Feliciano and Chris Russo are on the call, while James Justice and Rich Behan bring you pregame and halftime coverage as well as Hall Line.

Erin Kelly can be reached at erin.kelly@student.shu.edu.

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