Newark, NJ – With 15 minutes remaining, the Seton Hall Pirates trailed Greg McDermott’s Creighton squad by 16 points, but from that moment on, the game belonged to the Pirates. Head coach Shaheen Holloway cranked up the defensive intensity in an effort to ignite the offense, and the adjustment paid off. Seton Hall stormed back to complete a hard-fought 56–54 victory, capped by a dramatic finish in which freshman big man Najai Hines secured an offensive rebound and converted the go-ahead basket with one second remaining, drawing the foul in the process.
The calling card for the Pirates all season has been their tenacious defense, and it was on full display this afternoon. Adam “Budd” Clark’s on-ball defense stood out in particular, as he consistently stayed in front of his assignment despite navigating through multiple hard screens on each possession. His relentless pressure paid off whenever ball handlers let their guard down, as Clark was quick to strip the ball away, finishing with four steals. TJ Simpkins was another key defensive presence, doing an excellent job containing his man and forcing difficult shots. Simpkins’ impact showed up across the stat sheet as well, as he recorded two steals and two blocks to help anchor the Pirates’ defensive effort.
One of the few bright spots for Creighton in today’s loss was Miami transfer Austin Swartz, who has been on an impressive run. Swartz continued to establish himself as the Bluejays’ most reliable shot-maker, showing poise with the ball and advanced shot-creation ability. He knocked down several tough, contested three-pointers and finished with 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-9 from beyond the arc. Through four Big East games, Swartz is averaging 18.5 points per game while shooting an outstanding 46% from three on 37 attempts. It will be worth watching whether he can sustain this level of play as conference competition continues.
The Pirates’ scoring was well balanced this afternoon, a product of strong ball movement and consistently finding the open man. Seton Hall recorded 11 assists on 19 made field goals, highlighting their unselfish offensive approach. Elijah Fisher led the way with 10 points. NC State transfer Trey Parker added nine points and has flashed real potential when sharing the floor with Budd Clark, a pairing Coach Shaheen Holloway has leaned on at times.
Four additional Pirates finished with eight points apiece—Clark, AJ Staton-McCray, Najai Hines, and Josh Rivera—further illustrating the team’s depth. Dating back to Holloway’s Elite Eight run with Saint Peter’s, his teams have thrived by playing 10 deep with little drop-off, and that identity is beginning to take shape in South Orange. Down the stretch, Clark was the only starter on the floor, surrounded by rotational pieces Parker, TJ Simpkins, Rivera, and Hines, a group that played with relentless energy and was rewarded with the win.
Ultimately, Seton Hall’s comeback victory served as a testament to its defensive identity, depth, and resilience under Shaheen Holloway. The Pirates leaned on relentless pressure, timely contributions from their rotation, and poise in the game’s biggest moments to erase a 16-point deficit and secure a statement Big East win. As conference play continues, Seton Hall will look to carry this momentum on the road when it travels to Georgetown on Saturday, while Creighton will aim to regroup and respond as it heads to Villanova on Wednesday in search of a bounce-back performance.
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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