Seton Hall
Seton Hall shocks #9 Kentucky in OT at the Garden, 84-83
Date: December 8, 2018By Frank Frasco
Seton Hall entered “The World’s Most Famous Arena” and took down #9 Kentucky as the Pirates beat the Wildcats in overtime with the final score of 84-83. The Pirates (6-3) are now 9-3 in their last 12 games inside Madison Square Garden and tallied on another nationally ranked win to make it five total in that span.
In a matchup that Pirate fans haven’t seen in 30 years, the first half consisted of sloppy performances on both sides of the court. Seton Hall entered halftime with 10 turnovers, basically matching their season’s turnover average of 10.1 per game. Myles Powell kept trying to make an impact, but the jump shot was just not working as he entered halftime with 3 points, 0-2 from beyond the arc.
The game was offensively back and forth in its entirety until the magic of the Garden really made its mark within Seton Hall’s season so far. With forward Sandro Mamukelashvili fouling out with four minutes of action remaining, it was the Myles Powell show as the standout junior hit a big three to keep the Pirates within reach against the Wildcats. Kentucky kept trying to maintain a sizeable lead, but Powell hit a three-pointer to take the lead with one second left in the game, 70-67.
However, Kentucky freshmen guard Keldon Johnson (a contender for the John Wooden Player of the year award) gave an emphatic halt to any early celebration as he hit a remarkable half-court shot to send the game into overtime. Overtime wasn’t much different than regulation besides the other Myles who stepped up big for this team in the final minute of action. With 10 seconds remaining, sophomore guard Myles Cale caught a pass from beyond the arc, pump faked, and called game as he swished a jumper that gave Seton Hall the momentous, confidence-building win.
If there was any doubt Myles Powell would step up to the challenge of a nationally ranked team, he silenced the skeptics. Powell entered the second half with a magic touch that has been seen this season, but never so dominantly at the Garden. Entering this matchup averaging 14 points per game in 7 appearances at “The Mecca,” Powell blew up in the second half scoring 22 points and 5-8 from beyond the arc. His pull up three-pointers were near unbelievable, as he finished the game with 28 points.
Seton Hall Head Coach Kevin Willard alluded to the tough losses of Louisville and Saint Louis in providing his team with lessons to continue their growth before this big, nationally televised game.
“What I like about this group more than anything is that they stay, they continue to work. That’s how I set the schedule up, I need that to get these guys battle tested.”
Well, a battle test it was as the Pirates leave MSG with three more non-conference matchups, most notably Rutgers and Maryland coming up. However, Willard knows that the Garden experience is important for the far distant but always anticipated Big East Tournament in a few months.
“It’s one of those places where the kids understand the history. When you walk in this building there’s a different energy. It’s just a magical place and it always happens here.”
Frank Frasco can be reached at frank.frasco@student.shu.edu.
