Pirates Bounce Back with 67-56 Win Over NJIT

Published: Wednesday, December 4, 2024

by Kyle Ferreira

NEWARK, N.J. — The Seton Hall Pirates (5-4) gave fans something to cheer about Wednesday night, defeating the NJIT Highlanders (1-9) 67-56.

Even on a cold, wintry night, the Pirates brought the heat early against the Highlanders. By the first media timeout, Seton Hall jumped out to a commanding 15-2 lead, fueled by Prince Aligbe and Garwey Dual. The Boston College and Providence transfers each scored five points, setting the tone for the night.

Early on, the message was clear: attack the paint. Prince Aligbe and Emmanuel Okorafor, making his first start Wednesday, executed perfectly. The aggressiveness missing against Monmouth on Saturday was on full display, highlighted by Yacine Toumi battling for possession midway through the first half.

However, the Highlanders didn’t back down, led by sophomore guard Tariq Francis. The former America East Rookie of the Year closed the first half with 13 points, keeping NJIT within striking distance at 35-31. A late 7-0 run also helped the Highlanders stay close.

Pirates head coach Shaheen Holloway emphasized Saturday that he wanted more from everyone, and the second half delivered. Despite NJIT’s 2-3 zone causing early trouble, Seton Hall found a way through. Isaiah Coleman and a strong performance from Aligbe helped the Pirates regain control.

After a slow start, Isaiah Coleman showcased his scoring ability and court vision to set up teammates. But it was Aligbe who stole the show in the second half. His 10 points, including several highlight-reel dunks, and eight rebounds were pivotal to the Pirates' victory.

It turned out to be a career night for the junior, as Aligbe finished with a career-high 19 points. With strong performances down the stretch, the Pirates secured the win over their Essex County rivals. It was a much-needed victory, especially with challenging matchups ahead against Oklahoma State and Rutgers.

After the game, Prince Aligbe and Dylan Addae-Wusu shared their thoughts, with Addae-Wusu, who missed Saturday’s game due to illness, expressing his excitement to be back on the court.

“It felt good. Being able to be out there with my teammates and coming out with a win felt great.” 

Aligbe praised Garwey Dual for his effort, as Dual finished the night with a season-high 11 points.

“He’s been battling some injuries. I know he’s been putting the time in... It was a good outing for him.”  

Despite the Pirates' success, Tariq Francis proved a challenge, finishing with 23 points. Coach Holloway praised his performance postgame.

“Super proud of him. We game-planned a lot of shots he took. He made some tough shots.” 

With Wednesday’s game behind them, the Pirates now turn their focus to Sunday’s matchup against Big 12 opponent Oklahoma State. The game will be broadcast live on 89.5 FM WSOU, with tip-off scheduled for noon. Pregame coverage begins at 11:45 a.m., with Joe Morales and Michael Bellifemini on the call.

Kyle Ferreira can be reached at kyle.ferreira@student.shu.edu. 

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