WSOU

Recap: Seton Hall Shocks No. 4 Michigan in Gavitt Tipoff Games Classic, 67-65

Date: November 17, 2021

By: Jimmy Bliss

Seton Hall's Jared Rhoden celebrates after defeating No. 4 Michigan on the road.

Yahoo.com

An instant classic unfolded before our very eyes on Tuesday evening.

Seton Hall (3-0) avenged their loss against Michigan (2-1) in the National Championship game 32 years later, traveling to Ann Arbor, Mich. and taking down the No. 4 team in the country, 67-65. This statement victory by the Pirates did not come easily, but they got the job done when the lights shined the brightest.

The first half was incredibly back-and-forth between the Pirates and Wolverines. The largest lead was just five points, which was possessed by Michigan down the stretch of the first 20 minutes. But prior to that, both teams had three-point leads vanish within the blink of an eye.

Wolverines Hunter Dickinson and Eli Brooks led all scorers with 10 points at the break, followed closely by Pirates Jared Rhoden and Tray Jackson, with nine points and eight points, respectively. Michigan held a 31-28 halftime lead with 20 minutes to play.

The second half was a completely different story. A flurry of points scored in the paint gave the Wolverines a 45-34 lead with 14:41 left in the game. At this point, a victory looked bleak. On paper, the game looked as good as over. But thankfully for the Seton Hall faithful, basketball is not played on paper.

A quick 6-0 run cut the Michigan lead to five points with 13:06 left in the second half. The Wolverines regrouped, as they stretched their lead to 55-46 with 8:46 left in the game. But the Pirates would not be denied.

A 9-2 run tied the game at 57 points apiece with 4:30 to play, capped by Bryce Aiken’s three-pointer. That was his only three-point shot he connected with all night, and it could not have come at a better time.

DeVante Jones responded by sinking a three, giving Michigan a 60-57 lead with under four minutes left. Ike Obiagu tied the game at 60, following a made free throw with 2:25 to go.

A few back-and-forth shots kept it at a stalemate, 62-62 with under two minutes left in the second half. But Seton Hall grasped their first lead since 5:05 left in the first half, thanks to an Aiken free throw with 1:15 to go. He would go to the line a few more times for the Pirates, scoring four of the Pirates final five points of the night.

Prior to Aiken’s final free throws, Michigan had a chance to tie the game, or potentially win it, with 10 seconds to go. Terrance Williams attempted a jump shot on the Wolverines’ final possession and was fouled by Jared Rhoden. The shot hit off the rim, sending Williams to the line with the chance to tie the game at 66.

He missed his first free throw but made his second to give Michigan a fighting chance. But when the ball was inbounded to Aiken, the game was as good as over. He sunk one free throw and intentionally missed the second one with under a second to go, letting the time run out.

Dickinson led all scorers with 18 points to go along with nine rebounds for Michigan. Two other Wolverines scored in double figures, with Brooks and Jones recording 17 points and 11 points, respectively. Brooks added 12 boards, as he led all players in rebounds.

As for Seton Hall, Rhoden led the Pirates in scoring with 16. Following him, Aiken and Jackson contributed 13 points each.

This game showed the resiliency that all fans love to see, and every coach adores. To go on the road against a top-four team in the nation and be down by double digits, to come back and win is incredibly impressive. The Pirates not only put the rest of the Big East on notice on Tuesday night, but they also put the entire country on notice.

Next up for the Pirates is the Fort Myers Tip-Off tournament, and a date with Ohio State on Nov. 22, and Heaven Hill and Wilnir Louis will be on the call for 89.5 FM WSOU. Be sure to follow WSOU Sports on all social media platforms to keep up to date on all things Seton Hall sports.

Jimmy Bliss can be reached at james.bliss@student.shu.edu.

Posted in: Men's Basketball, Sports, WSOU

Seton Hall

Seton Hall

Merchandise

wsou store