Seton Hall men’s basketball continued its strong start to the season on Monday night, holding off Marquette 79–73 at Fiserv Forum to earn its second BIG EAST road win of the season and to snap a four-game losing streak in the building.
The victory pushed the Pirates to 12–2 overall and 2–1 in BIG EAST play, marking their best start through 14 games since the 1992–1993 season. It was also the first time SHU has won multiple conference road games in a season since 2020–2021.
Senior forward Stephon Payne once again held it down in the paint for the Pirates, finishing with 14 points and a dominant season-high 22 rebounds, including 11 offensive boards, as SHU controlled the glass from start to finish. Payne’s performance came just one week after earning BIG EAST Player of the Week, USBWA National Player of the Week, and MET Basketball Writers Player of the Week, following his 18-point, 16-rebound performance in the Pirates’ win at Providence.
The Pirates led by just one at the break, 39–38, before tightening defensively in the second half and outscoring the Golden Eagles 40–35 over the final 20 minutes of the game to earn the win.
After having an injury scare earlier in the game, graduate guard AJ Staton-McCray provided the Pirates with a spark as well, tying Payne with a team-high 14 points while knocking down four three-pointers. Junior guards Mike Williams and Adam “Budd” Clark both scored 13 points apiece, with Williams also recording six assists and three steals, and Clark grabbing four rebounds.
Off the bench, fellow junior guard Tajuan Simpkins delivered once again, adding 11 points, including clutch free throws down the stretch. Senior forward Josh Rivera also added eight points on efficient shooting (3-for-4 from the floor, 2-for-2 from the line). The Pirates bench outscored that of the Golden Eagles, 33–26, and helped maintain control during Marquette's scoring pushes throughout the game.
Freshman Najai Hines also made his return after missing the last two games with an undisclosed ailment. The 6-foot-10 forward had six points and two blocks in just eight minutes of play.
The Pirates finished the night shooting 39% from the field (25-for-64) and 35% from three (7-for-20), but the difference came at the free-throw line and on the boards. SHU attempted 29 free throws, making 22 of them (75.9%), while winning the rebounding battle 51–33. SHU also recorded eight steals, continuing a streak of recording at least seven steals in every game this season.
Marquette, now 5–9 overall and 0–3 in BIG EAST play, was led by senior forward Ben Gold, who scored a career-high 19 points. Freshman guard Nigel James Jr. also added 16 points and five assists. The Golden Eagles shot 36.5% from the field (23-for-63) and 30% from three (8-for-27) but were unable to stop SHU’s physicality inside.
Marquette managed to cut SHU’s lead to four in the final two minutes, but the Pirates closed the game out at the line and by forcing late turnovers to secure the comeback road victory.
The win was a strong bounce-back after SHU’s home loss to Villanova earlier in the week. With another BIG EAST road win, the Pirates finish the calendar year with momentum as they return to the Prudential Center on Jan. 4 to face the surging Creighton Blue Jays (9-5, 3-0 BIG EAST).
Jaden Highsmith is the assistant editor of The Setonian’s Sports section. He can be reached at jaden.highsmith@student.shu.edu.
