Seton Hall Rides Clark's Elite Performance Toward Much-Needed Win Over Providence

Published: Thursday, February 12, 2026

by Nick Diodato

NEWARK, N.J. - The Seton Hall Pirates (17-8, 7-7) left Prudential Center victorious Wednesday night after grabbing a hard-fought comeback win versus the Providence Friars (11-14, 4-10). 

This game saw Seton Hall’s Budd Clark take over, especially during the second half, as he finished the game with a season-high 31 points, eight assists, five steals, and shooting 68% from the field.  

Other leaders for the Pirates were AJ Staton-McCray and Tajuan Simpkins. Staton-McCray ended the night with 18 points and three three-pointers, while Simpkins put up a stat line of 13 points on 4/6 shooting.  

Coming into this game, Seton Hall desperately needed a win to keep their tournament chances alive, following a full breakdown in the last 90 seconds of their last game versus Creighton. The Hall were up nine with a minute and a half to go against the Bluejays, and ended up losing the game, 69-68.  

Clark said in the post-game press conference, “Last game was last game, we try to leave that in past and got back on track tonight.”  

Throughout the start of the first half, the Pirates and Friars came out the gate with some tough defense, with both teams scoreless in the first two minutes. The Friars started to find their footing with four quick three-pointers to take a 7-point lead.  

Despite this, the Pirates kept fighting with Clark leading with eight early points highlighted by knocking down a quick jumper and then another tough and-one layup for the Hall. Providence just would not stop, forcing three sloppy turnovers for the Pirates in just a minute and a half, leading to even more three pointers. 

The Pirates continued to cut down the Friars’ lead, but were met with answers almost every time. Both offenses looked great to start, but it soon became slow at the end of the half. Turnovers were seen on both ends of the floor with nine from Providence and five from the Hall. Three of those turnovers came in just two minutes from the Friars, while the Pirates went scoreless for over two minutes.  

Seton Hall needed to see a change in the second half with Providence taking a 43-39 lead into the break.  

To start the second half, a frustrated Kim English led to a much-anticipated technical foul being called on Providence, and this seemed to be turning point in this contest. Simpkins splashed a three, then hit a tough layup that tied the game up 53-53 at the 13-minute mark. Back-to-back jumpers from Clark give the Pirates their first lead of the night at 57-55, pushing forward Seton Hall’s momentum.  

In the final 10 minutes, Godswill Erheriene helped push the pace with a leaning and-one, sending Pirates nation into a frenzy. The last 10 minutes really turned into the Clark show, with it being tough basket after tough basket for him, pulling away the win for the Pirates.  

After trailing for just about the first 28 minutes of the game, Seton Hall was able to finish the comeback, with the final score coming in at 87-80. The win showed just how good this Seton Hall team is in the second half and that they are not ready for what most would call a great season, to come to an end.   

The Pirates head to Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday when they take on the Butler Bulldogs at 6:00 p.m. on 89.5 FM WSOU, with Jack Pine and Chris Heite on the call.

Nick Diodato can be reached at nicholas.diodato@student.shu.edu.

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