Game Preveiw: Seton Hall looks to push win streak against Xavier (2/20/19)

Date: February 19, 2019

By Wilnir Louis

The Seton Hall men’s basketball team (16-9 Overall, 7-6 Conf.) will try to keep their win streak and NCAA tournament hopes alive in front of their electrified fans on Wednesday when they welcome in the Xavier Musketeers (13-13 Overall, 5-8 Conf.) to the Prudential Center.

The last time these two teams met, Seton Hall found themselves down late in the matchup. With 12:16 remaining in the game, the Pirates were down by 10 points to the Musketeers. Seton Hall was able to buckle down and go on a 34-14 run to close out the game, and when the buzzer sounded, Seton Hall won 80-70 on January 2.

Since that game, the Pirates have been on rollercoaster season, losing five of the next six games after that contest before winning four of five, which includes the three game win streak that they are currently on.

In the Pirates’ last time on the court, they had to rally back from a six-point hole against Creighton with 4:33 left in regulation. In Seton Hall fashion, they mustered up a 14-2 run to finish the game. A go-ahead step-back three by Myles Powell with 48.5 seconds left would help the Pirates leave Omaha with an 81-75 victory.

As for the Musketeers, since their matchup with the Pirates, they have been on an up and down season as well. They went on to win two of three games after playing the Hall before going on a six game skid. However, this past week, Xavier won their matchups against Creighton 64-61 in overtime and Providence 75-61. The Jersey native, Naji Marshall averaged 18.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in those two games, which allowed Marshall to be on the Big East Conference weekly honor roll.

One of these teams win streak will have to break inside the Prudential Center on Wednesday. Find out who will come out victorious on 89.5 FM WSOU when Bob Towey and Mat Mlodzinski bring you all of the coverage of the matchup. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 P.M, with pregame coverage beginning at 6:45.

Wilnir Louis can be reached at wilnir.louis@student.shu.edu.  

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