Seton Hall Continues Red Hot Start to the 2025-26 Season with Dominant Garden State Hardwood Classic Victory

Published: Sunday, December 14, 2025

by Nick DiBlasi

NEWARK, N.J. – For the first time in over a decade, the Seton Hall Pirates improved to 10-1 on the year with a remarkable 81-59 victory over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (5-6).

In what has been a tradition for over a decade, the Garden State Hardwood Classic is played between the two former BIG EAST foes every season. This rivalry matchup was not so competitive this season, as the Pirates outmatched Rutgers in every facet of the game.

Coming into the Classic, the Hall was on fire defensively, ranking seventh nationally in turnover margin (+6.0), eleventh in scoring defense (61.9), and twelfth in the country in steals per game (10.7). These efforts were put on full display from the opening tip, where Budd Clark used his active hands to poke the ball loose on three different occasions. 

Running the fast break offense in the process, the Pirates jumped out to an early 6-0 lead. In front of a sold-out crowd, the blue and white were able to continue feeding off the Rock’s energy. Five straight points from guard Mike Williams expanded the lead to 11-0 before the first media timeout.

With just under seven minutes remaining in the first half, Rutgers came within one point of the Hall, which was the closest they would get all game. Although they were able to fight back, AJ Staton-McCray took matters into his own hands, as he opened the floodgates for his squad by scoring eight points in five minutes to once again put Seton Hall ahead by double digits.

The Pirates, who pride themselves on defensive grit and togetherness, held Rutgers leading scorers Dylan Grant and Tariq Francis to zero points apiece throughout the entire first half. 

Basketball is said to be a game of runs, and that was exemplified in the second half. Each time the Scarlet Knights would try to crawl back into the game, Seton Hall was right there to put them back down. Whether it was Staton-McCray with his game-high 18 points, Clark’s 14-second-half points, or Najai Hines’ putbacks, the Pirates always had an emphatic response. 

After two years spent with Rutgers, the Garden State Classic Trophy heads back to South Orange in 2025. The 81-59 victory is the largest margin of victory for the in-state foes since 2015. Clark, who contributed 16 points, seven assists, and four steals, was named the Joe Calabrese Most Valuable Player. It was not only a strong offensive showing for Clark, but it was an all-around effort as usual. 

For the sixth straight game, the Pirates have scored 75 or more points, while having at least three double-digit scorers featured in every game this season. The freshman phenom Hines recorded his fifth career game with double-digit points, fourth game with four blocks, and seventh with six rebounds.

Following the win, Seton Hall opens BIG EAST play on Friday when they visit the Providence Friars in Providence, Rhode Island. Jack Pine and Jacob Glick will be on the call for 89.5 FM WSOU for the exciting matchup inside Amica Mutual Pavilion with tipoff slated for 6:30 p.m.

Nick DiBlasi can be reached at nicholas.diblasi@student.shu.edu.

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