Pirates Get First BE Win in OT vs DePaul, 85-80

Published: Thursday, January 9, 2025

by Lauren Reese

NEWARK, N.J - In an overtime battle that pushed the Pirates to the most extensive lengths, Seton Hall (6-9) took care of business, 85-80, over DePaul (9-7) at The Rock on Wednesday. They have officially knocked down their first conference win of the 2024-25 season, and continued to hold DePaul winless in BIG EAST play for their 723rd day. 

DePaul wasted no time with their hot start, hitting back-to-back threes to open up the night’s scoring. After a quick start from the Blue Demons found The Hall down 18-9, Coach Holloway went to his bench and sent out Jahseem Felton. He and veteran starter Dylan Addae-Wusu combined for nine points that helped the Pirates knock back on the door, 24-22, at the U8 media timeout. 

But the Pirates soon fell cold, and DePaul aggressively raged on. Led by Troy D’Amico and CJ Gunn, the Blue Demons exploded out of the break, going on an aggressive 17-4 run until the first-half whistle was blown. Seton Hall went into the break, down 41-26, with numerous questions that needed immediate answers. DePaul looked high in energy, and understandably so; they were only 20 minutes away from their first conference play victory in almost two years.

The Pirates’ solutions would not be discovered just yet. Holding the Pirates scoreless, DePaul chipped in a few more points to bring their total to 45-26. Seton Hall were now staring down immense odds in order to find their first win of BIG EAST play. 

But this is where the pendulum play of the night began to make itself known. Desperately looking to find some momentum and morale, Coach Holloway went back to his bench to bring in the Boston College transfer, Prince Aligbe. Aligbe, alongside Felton, went on a buzzing 23-5 scoring run that in the Prudential Center, one that lacked a student section, created loud cheers, chants, and high spirits from the surrounding crowd. 

This game was far from over, and neither team was going down without a fight. DePaul silenced the Pirate faithful with a 15-5 run with about four minutes left. But Ohio State transfer Scotty Middleton and sophomore star Isaiah Coleman led the Pirates back into this game, keeping their team within two, 67-65, with 60 seconds left on the clock. 

The pendulum continued to tick back and forth. Felton gave up a foul on DePaul’s Jacob Meyer three-point shot, sending Meyer to the line for three. Going 2-3 on the free throws, DePaul immediately called a timeout following it. A buzzer-beater trifecta was the only shot that could keep the Pirates alive and send this game into overtime. 

With some back-and-forth action and a screen by Aligbe, Addae-Wusu handed the ball off to Isaiah Coleman with five seconds on the clock. He gets the “he is” for a reason; Coleman sunk the three to tie the game, and DePaul’s half-court last attempt was no good. 68-68. 

After overtime opened with the two teams trading threes, Seton Hall soon looked unstoppable, especially thanks to the veterans that are Addae-Wusu and Coleman. The two combined for 15 total in the extra five minutes, including an Addae-Wusu trey resulting in crowd cheers that could’ve torn the roof down at The Rock. The Bronx native ended his night with a SHU career-high 24 points.

DePaul was stunned immediately out of the floodgates, and could not find enough energy to pull off one last pendulum swing of a comeback. The Pirates won this matchup, 85-80, winning heir first BE game of this season, as well as their first game of 2025. 

But had it not been for the work done by the returners who know the Coach Holloway style of play, this game could have been entirely different. 

“It’s college basketball, this is why they’re here. Dylan and Zay were here last year, they understand how to do this, and I told them this was coming. They came alive in the second half.” - Coach Holloway on Addae-Wusu and Coleman, as returners, stepping up.

For a team that’s typically not known for their three-ball, by the end of the game, Seton Hall shot 11-22 (50%) from downtown, while DePaul was held to just 13-35 (37%). Bench points were integral for the blue and white, prevailing over the Blue Demons 33-17. 

“We found grit, from any of the five players out there… it’s about how you fight. Once we found their weaknesses, we attack, and make it count” - Prince Aligbe on the biggest difference from the first to the second half

Seton Hall will look to remain hot when they travel up to Providence on Saturday, with tipoff at 5:00 p.m.

But for now, it is safe to say no Demons will be haunting the Pirates in this time.

Lauren Reese is an Assistant Sports Director and Web Editor for WSOU and can be reached at lauren.reese@student.shu.edu. 

 

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