Seton Hall
Powell scores 2,000th career point in Seton Hall's narrow victory against St. John's, 82-79
Date: January 18, 2020By: Michael Daly
The Seton Hall men’s basketball team (14-4 overall record, 6-0 Big East record) outlasted St. John’s (12-7 overall record, 1-5 Big East record), 82-79, at Madison Square Garden on Saturday afternoon.
After trailing by 13 points at the half, Seton Hall roared back in the second half by outscoring St. John’s, 52-36. The Pirates utilized key free throws by Quincy McKnight in the final seconds to seal the victory.
“The biggest difference between last year and this year is the experience. These guys are better this year than last year,” said Seton Hall’s head coach Kevin Willard on the team’s improvements in one season.
The last time Seton Hall and St. John’s played was on Feb. 23, 2019, and the Pirates fell at Madison Square Garde, 78-70. The Pirates were able to re-write their misfortunes from last year and orchestrated a second half comeback. History was made in this game when Myles Powell scored his 2,000th career point at Seton Hall.
The Red Storm came out of the opening tip on fire thanks to two consecutive three-pointers by Mustapha Heron. His first two made shots gave St. John’s an early 6-0 advantage on Seton Hall at the 18:09 mark. McKnight put the Pirates on the board with a runner in the lane with 17:31 left.
St. John’s committed a goaltending penalty on Romaro Gill with 16:24 left in the first half, 8-4 was the score. The Pirates turned the ball over nine times through the first 11 minutes of action and there was a three-minute stretch that saw the Pirates turn the ball over four times.
The Pirates pulled within one point of St. John’s, 28-27, following a made three-pointer by Powell with 4:42 to go in the first half. St. John’s closed out the final four minutes of the first half on a dominant 15-3 run. Seton Hall suffered 15 turnovers in the first half and shot 34.5% from the field.
Seton Hall ripped off five quick points coming out of half-time and pulled within eight points, 43-35, with two minutes into the final half. The Pirates were out on a 13-3 run from the under-16 media timeout to the next media timeout at the 12:32 waypoint.
Marcellus Earlington sank a jump-stop attempt in the lane just a few seconds prior to the under-12 media timeout that allowed St. John’s to take a 56-53 lead over Seton Hall. The Red Storm and the Pirates traded blows when Powell drilled a three-point shot, and it was followed by a deep ball from LJ Figueroa with 7:47 remaining. Powell sent the Pirates into the under-eight media timeout with a 64-61 lead over St. John’s, after he knocked down a three from downtown.
Heron ran down the floor on a fast break and was subsequently fouled. He made both attempts during his appearance at the line with 5:27 remaining. The two teams were trading the lead until Powell scored in the lane and was sent to the line at the 1:38 mark, 75-73.
Seton Hall held off St. John’s and escaped Madison Square Garden with a well-earned victory. The leading scorer for Seton Hall was Powell with 29 points, while McKnight was second in scoring with 20 points and 6-8 shooting.
The Seton Hall Pirates are in action next on Wednesday in the Prudential Center against the Providence Friars at 8:30 p.m.
Michael Daly is the Web Editor at WSOU Sports and can be reached at wsousportswebeditor@gmail.com.
Posted in: Sports, WSOU, Men's Basketball
