Pirates Look for Revenge Against Hoyas

Published: Saturday, February 8, 2025

by Jack Pine

The Seton Hall men's basketball team (6-17, 1-11) will face the Georgetown Hoyas (14-9, 5-7) in the nation's capital Saturday afternoon. The Hoyas will look to complete the season sweep at home, where they have won 11 of their 14 games.

The Hoyas escaped with a 61-60 win at Prudential Center on Dec. 23. The Pirates struggled offensively, shooting just 13% from 3-point range and 30% overall from the field. Despite the poor statistics, Seton Hall still had a chance to win in the final moments, but a turnover by Dylan Addae-Wusu sealed the team's fate.

The Pirates enter this matchup on an eight-game losing streak. Saturday marks one month since their last win. Over the last eight games, the Pirates have averaged 63 points per game but have surpassed 60 points only once in the last six games.

During their cold stretch, the Pirates have been heavily depleted by injuries, as they were without Addae-Wusu, Chaunce Jenkins and Scotty Middleton during their blowout loss to Butler on Wednesday. Prince Aligbe led the Pirates in scoring with 17 points, but the Hall still fell short, losing 84-54.

Isaiah Coleman is also struggling. Seton Hall’s leading scorer is averaging 7.3 points over the past three games, including two with just two points each.

During that stretch, Aligbe has been a bright spot for the Pirates' offense, shooting 50% from the field. He is averaging 14.6 points per game, doubling Coleman's scoring total. Aligbe matched his career high of 19 points for the third time this season against Providence on Jan. 28.

Georgetown has seen significant improvement in coach Ed Cooley’s second season. After winning just two games in BIG EAST play and nine games overall last season, the Hoyas look like a completely different team this year.

The biggest difference for Georgetown has been on defense. After ranking last in the conference in opponent field goal percentage last season at 48.9%, the Hoyas have improved to second this season at 40.3%.

Cooley’s defense has also been more active this season. After ranking ninth in the conference in steals per game last season (5.7), the team now ranks third (8.1), an improvement of more than two steals per game.

Freshman Thomas Sorber has been a standout for the Hoyas this season, leading the team with 8.6 rebounds per game. He has also made a significant offensive impact, recording five games with 20 or more points. Sorber ranks among the nation's top freshmen, leading all first-year players in rebounds per game (8.6) and double-doubles (7).

Sorber, along with the Hoyas' star trio of Jayden Epps, Micah Peavy and Malik Mack, will be a formidable foe for the Pirates as they look for just their second win of BIG EAST play.

Seton Hall and Georgetown are scheduled to tip off from Capital One Arena at 12 p.m. WSOU’s coverage will begin at 11:30 a.m., with analysis from Joe Morales and Chris Heite. Michael Federico and Bobby Steiner will have the call. 

Jack Pine is an Assistant Sports Director/Sports Web Editor at WSOU 89.5 FM and can be reached at john.pine@student.shu.edu. 

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