Pirates Roll By Fairfield to Advance to 3-0 on the Season

Published: Tuesday, November 11, 2025

by Darron Rosborough

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. -  The Seton Hall Pirates (3-0) took down the Fairfield Stags (1-2) at Walsh Gymnasium on Monday Night by a score of 82-59 to remain undefeated in the young 2025-26 season. 

The game started at a very fast pace as both teams exchanged shots and leads. The Pirates were able to score first with Budd Clark making a layup. The Stags were able to respond quickly when Braden Sparks hit a three to take the lead for the Stags. Sparks would drain yet another three, giving the Stags a 6-4 lead. 

A three-point shot from AJ Staton-McCray would give the Pirates a 9-6 edge, and they held on to this lead for the rest of the game. Not long later, Mike Williams III also connected on an impressive three-point shot while being fouled, and converted on his free throw attempt making it a four-point play. 

During the first half, Sparks was a huge problem for the Pirates as he scored 12 points for the Stags, and had all of Fairfield’s 10 points through the first nine minutes. 

The Pirates were also struggling to find chemistry as a team in the first half with costly mistakes and errand passes which would have given them a larger lead going into the second frame. It is worth noting that this is a very new Pirates squad with the vast majority of the roster playing their first games together as teammates, so this is something that was to be expected early into the year. 

The star of last game, Elijah Fisher, entered heavy foul trouble in the half as he committed three fouls. Tajuan Simpkins ended the first half with a layup right before the buzzer, and the Pirates went into the half with a 35-28 lead.

The Pirates came out in the second half firing on all cylinders offensively and looked well-adjusted after going on an 11-4 scoring run, capped off by a Fisher layup. 

After the game, Coach Shaheen Holloway said that the key adjustment made in the locker room was to “share the ball and get out,” and this adjustment was indeed the key to get the Pirates rolling on offense as they were able to score 42 points in the second half and win 82-59.

The freshmen sensation Najai Hines earned his first double-double of his collegiate career, posting 10 points and 10 rebounds. Staton-McCray led the team in points with 13, while coming away with four steals.

However, this win was bittersweet, as with five minutes to go the sophomore guard Jahseem Felton went down with a knee injury. He was helped off the court by the training staff and a teammate. 

Seton Hall will defend their undefeated streak again on Thursday night when they face off against Monmouth at the Prudential Center, with Nick DiBlasi and Chris Heite on the call. You can catch all of the action on 89.5 FM WSOU. 

Darron Rosborough can be reached at darron.rosborough@student.shu.edu.

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