Newark, N.J. – With their season teetering after a lifeless loss to DePaul, the Seton Hall Pirates entered Wednesday night knowing there was no margin for error against Xavier. What followed in the first half only heightened the sense of urgency. Florida Atlantic transfer Tre Carroll carved up the Pirates at every level, slicing into the paint and burying shots from deep, as Seton Hall had no answers. The Pirates stumbled into the locker room down 11. Then came the response.
Seton Hall erupted out of halftime, flipping the game on its head with a stunning 23–3 run. The Pirates turned up the defensive pressure, forced Xavier into mistake after mistake, and completely overwhelmed a retooled Musketeers squad that suddenly looked lost. The run ignited the Prudential Center and shifted all momentum, and from there, Seton Hall never relented. The Pirates pulled away with authority, securing an emphatic 86–68 win.
The difference-maker in Wednesday night’s win was Elon transfer TJ Simpkins, who delivered a dominant, all-around performance. Simpkins looked a step above the competition, asserting himself on both ends of the floor and proving nearly impossible to contain. He poured in a game-high 27 points and was the Pirates’ lone threat from beyond the arc, knocking down 5 of his 8 three-point attempts.
While his offensive output marked one of the most impressive performances by a Pirate this season, Simpkins’ impact extended well beyond scoring. Defensively, he consistently put Xavier’s ball handlers in uncomfortable positions, forcing rushed decisions that often resulted in turnovers. Though much of his defensive presence didn’t fully show up in the box score, Simpkins still finished with two steals and a block, further cementing himself as a vital two-way presence for this Seton Hall squad.
Despite the loss, it cannot be overstated how impactful senior transfer Tre Carroll is for this Xavier team. Seton Hall’s disruptive defense had no answers for him in the first half, as Carroll consistently generated clean looks and controlled the offensive flow. He finished with 22 points on efficient shooting, going 8-of-13 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.
That said, Carroll’s night was cut short by early foul trouble in the second half, which limited his minutes and significantly lowered Xavier’s offensive ceiling. With so much of the Musketeers’ offense running through him, his absence on the floor was felt immediately and proved costly as the game slipped away.
Playing alongside Simpkins’ unforgettable performance was the steady brilliance of the Pirates’ lead guard, Adam “Budd” Clark. Clark asserted himself early and often, consistently exploiting mismatches as Xavier struggled to meaningfully contest his shots. That freedom allowed him to get to his bread-and-butter midrange game—looks that are essentially automatic for the junior point guard.
Clark turned in his best scoring performance as a Pirate, finishing with 24 points on 8-of-16 shooting while also contributing seven rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Despite his size, Clark plays much bigger than his frame, fearlessly elevating among the bigs to secure rebounds and immediately ignite the transition offense, which led to several key baskets.
Seton Hall’s success continues to hinge on Clark’s ability to control the game, and performances like display just how far he may be able to carry this group moving forward.
With TJ Simpkins and Clark combining for 51 of the Pirates’ 86 points, it would be easy to assume there wasn’t much production behind them—but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Senior transfer Jacob Dar provided the exact spark Seton Hall needed. The 6-foot-7 forward, armed with a tremendous wingspan, was a constant presence all over the floor. Dar capitalized on second-chance opportunities, consistently made himself available as a pressure-release outlet, and converted when it mattered most. He finished with 10 crucial points and five rebounds.
Joining Dar in double figures was AJ Staton-McCray, who continues to work his way back toward his non-conference form. The senior guard showed he is far more than a perimeter shooter, repeatedly attacking the paint and converting high-percentage looks after slicing through the defense. Staton-McCray also made his impact felt defensively, finishing with four steals and two blocks. If he can sustain this level of play, he could be a key factor for the Pirates as Big East play rolls on.
The emphatic win gives Seton Hall a much-needed jolt of momentum as the Pirates continue to fight to keep their season alive. With renewed confidence and energy on both ends of the floor, Seton Hall will look to carry this performance into Saturday’s home matchup against Marquette, a game that could further shape their standing in the Big East race. For Xavier, the focus now shifts to regrouping and responding, as the Musketeers return home Saturday to take on DePaul in a matchup that will test their resilience after letting this one slip away.
This article was written by William Murphy, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.
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