SHU: Pirates Bounce Back in Milwaukee

USA TODAY

MILWAUKEE – The starting five of Seton Hall men’s basketball teams scored in double figures, led by junior Sterling Gibbs with 24 points and a career-high 10 assists, as the Pirates knocked down a season-high 13 three-pointers in an 80-70 road win at Marquette Wednesday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center

Freshman Khadeen Carrington, went 7-for-10 from the field and 3-for-4 from both the three-point line and the free throw line to finish with 20 points. Senior Brandon Mobley had 13 points and nine rebounds, sophomore Jaren Sina had 11 points and a season-high six assists and freshman center Angel Delgado had his seventh double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

The win snaps a three-game losing streak for the Pirates and they now improve to 14-6 overall and 4-4 in BIG EAST play. Marquette’s losing streak goes to four games as the Golden Eagles fall to 10-10 overall and 2-6 in the conference. This was Seton Hall’s first-ever win at the Bradley Center; before Wednesday night’s win the Hall was 0-7 in Milwaukee.

A four-point game at the half, the game turned at the start the second half as the Pirates went on a 28-8 run in the first 7:09. Carrington got the scoring started with a three after the Pirates forced a stop on defense. Then after the Pirates caused a pair of Marquette turnovers, Gibbs hit a three and then drove to the basket and assisted Mobley for a fast-break dunk and a 17-point lead, 47-30. On the next possession, Sina found Mobley for a second straight dunk and a 49-30 advantage.

The Pirates’ defense really started to clamp down in that second half as Marquette went without a field goal made for over five minutes and the Pirates’ lead at one point ballooned to 24.

Marquette fought back with an 11-2 run, but coming out of a timeout, Gibbs responded with his fifth three-pointer of the half and sixth of the game to give The Hall a 65-50 lead with 6:42 to play.

The Golden Eagles got within 12 three more times, but were never really able to fight back in it as the Pirates defense held Marquette to 4-for-11 shooting in team’s final four-and-a-half minutes.

Seton Hall shot exactly 50 percent from both the field and the three-point line (13-for-26). The Pirates surpassed their previous season high of 12 three-pointers, which was set vs. Illinois State on Nov. 24, 2014. The Pirates also tallied a season-high 23 assists against 15 turnovers while they also out-rebounded Marquette 38-32.

Matt Carlino led Marquette with 16 points.

The Pirates are back in action Saturday when they host Xavier at Prudential Center at noon.

Christian Pierre-Louis can be reached at christian.pierrelouis@student.shu.edu or on twitter @CPierreLouis_.