Seton Hall
Pirates Take Down NC State for First NCAA Tournament Win Since 2004
Date: March 16, 2018
(Photo: SHU Athletics)
By: Matt Ambrose
It was a game 14 years in the making. An offensive shootout in Wichita gave the Pirates a 94-83 win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, their first win in the tourney since 2004.
The Pirates came out of the gates red hot, knocking down six of their first seven shots to take a 15-6 lead at the first media timeout. The hot shooting would last the remainder of the first half for the Pirates, as they would connect on 61 percent of their shots in the first 20 minutes to take a 51-41 lead into halftime.
The second half saw a much more even battle, however Seton Hall was able to get out to a 13-point lead early in the half. NC State battled back to cut the lead to 69-66 with just over eight minutes remaining. The Pirates would respond with an 8-0 run over the next two minutes to extend the lead to 77-66 in favor of Seton Hall.
The Pirates would control the pace down the stretch, topping the Wolfpack for their first NCAA Tournament win in 14 years.
Khadeen Carrington was the catalyst offensively for the Pirates, totaling 26 points to go alone with four rebounds and three assists in 32 minutes of action. However, his focus was more on taking care of the ball than scoring on Thursday.
"I don't think scoring was really on my mind that much," Carrington said. "It was taking care of the ball." The Pirates only committed seven turnovers on the day.
Returning for the Pirates were fellow seniors Desi Rodriguez and Ismael Sanogo, who were both dealing with their respective ankle injuries. Both came off the bench on Thursday, but each made an immense impact on the game. Rodriguez dropped 20 points on 8-for-14 shooting, while Sanogo picked up a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
"The four seniors have put so much time and effort in and a win really validated everything for them," Head Coach Kevin Willard said.
Next up for the Pirates is a showdown with the Kansas Jayhawks, the top seed in the Midwest Region. The Pirates will look to advance to their first Sweet 16 since 2000. Tip-off is set for 7:10 p.m. ET with coverage on 89.5 FM WSOU.
Matt Ambrose is an Assistant Sports Director at 89.5 FM WSOU. He can be reached at matthew.ambrose1@student.shu.edu.
