Newark. N.J. – After an underwhelming performance against Wagner, Seton Hall came into their next matchup in need of a reset — and they delivered. Back on their home floor, Seton Hall responded with purpose, controlling the game from start to finish in an impressive 82–59 win over the Fairfield Stags. Behind a balanced scoring effort and improved execution on both ends of the floor, the Pirates looked far more like the team they expect to be as they worked their way back into rhythm.
The story of the night for the Pirates was their suffocating defense combined with a diverse scoring effort, as eight different players finished with at least eight points. Seton Hall moved the ball crisply within the flow of their offense, generating clean looks and dominating the interior with a 40–12 advantage in points in the paint. Defensively, they were just as impressive, forcing 17 turnovers while racking up 12 steals and 13 blocks to completely disrupt the Stags’ rhythm.
The standout performance of the night for the Pirates came from freshman big man Najai Hines, who delivered his first collegiate double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds in just 24 minutes of action, adding two blocks to round out an impressive outing. Throughout the game, Coach Shaheen Holloway was in Hines’ ear during every dead ball, guiding him, challenging him, and giving him plenty of opportunities to grow on the floor. As Hines continues to adjust to the speed and physicality of the college game, these moments are invaluable for his development — especially with Big East play on the horizon.
Hines made his presence felt early and often on the offensive glass, attacking rebounds with purpose and securing six offensive boards, which he turned into six second-chance points. His energy, physicality, and willingness to do the dirty work provided a major spark for Seton Hall and offered a glimpse of just how impactful he can become as he gains more experience.
The Stags managed to stay competitive early, largely due to the play of Braden Sparks. The 6-foot point guard came out firing, scoring Fairfield’s first 10 points and showing no hesitation in attacking every defender the Pirates put in front of him. He finished with an impressive 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Sparks is clearly the engine of Fairfield’s offense, and their success this season will likely hinge on his ability to produce at a high level.
Defensively, he held his own as well, switching effectively and staying disciplined in the full-court press, particularly when matched up against the speedy Budd Clark. With a JUCO season already behind him and the extra year of eligibility that comes with it, Sparks is poised for a breakout year. If he continues on this trajectory, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him make a jump to a higher-level conference once the season concludes.
Entering the offseason, the Pirates’ staff made it a priority to address one of last year’s biggest weaknesses: perimeter shooting. To bolster that area, they turned to the transfer portal and added former Miami Hurricane AJ Staton-McCray, a once 41% three-point shooter. Tonight, he showed exactly why he was such an important pickup. Staton-McCray was active in every phase of the game, finishing with 13 points, two rebounds, two assists, four steals, and a block while shooting an efficient 5-of-8 from the field and 3-of-4 from deep.
He knocked down multiple tough, contested threes — all within the rhythm of the offense — and mixed in strong drives to the rim, converting through contact. Defensively, he was just as impactful. His activity and quick hands consistently disrupted Fairfield’s ballhandlers, creating turnovers and transition opportunities for Seton Hall. If Staton-McCray can deliver this level of production on a nightly basis, he dramatically elevates the Pirates’ ceiling moving forward.
With contributions coming from all corners of the roster and clear strides made on both ends of the floor, the Pirates put together the kind of complete performance they were searching for after a sluggish outing against Wagner. The blend of defensive intensity, balanced scoring, and emerging individual standouts like Hines and Staton-McCray gives Seton Hall plenty of momentum as they continue to build their identity early in the season. The Pirates will look to carry that energy into their next matchup on Thursday, when they return to the court to take on Monmouth.
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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