Xavier vs. Seton Hall: Score, Highlights and Reaction from 2016 Regular Season

The unranked Seton Hall Pirates earned their most well-rounded win of the season in Sunday’s 90-81 victory over the No. 5 Xavier Musketeers in front of a sellout crowd.

The Pirates dominated early and often, and they capitalized on a lackluster effort from Xavier to claim their first win over a top-five team at home since 2004. Seton Hall never trailed once Sunday.

The Pirates gave an early indication they were on pace for a big afternoon by jumping out to a 9-0 lead to start the game. Xavier responded immediately with an 8-2 run but the Pirates kept answering, holding the Musketeers to just three points over the final seven minutes of the first half to create a 45-26 lead.

Xavier shot just 10-of-37 from the field in the opening period and was 4-of-9 on free throws with seven turnovers as Seton Hall jumped to its 19-point lead at the break.

Here is a look at an alley-oop from Isaiah Whitehead to Desi Rodriguez that started an 11-2 run and helped the Pirates build a large first-half cushion, per Big East MBB:

Seton Hall power forward Angel Delgado was quite pumped as the Pirates pulled away in the first half, as shown by Big East MBB:

ESPN.com’s Dana O’Neil made a quip on how Xavier coach Chris Mack was likely feeling after such a massive deficit at the half:

The Pirates showed some vulnerability early in the second half, with three turnovers and a slew of missed shots in the first five minutes before regaining full form. 

Rodriguez and Whitehead led the charge with a combined 43 points—more than half of the Pirates’ total production. Seton Hall shot 50 percent from the field, scored 16 points off 12 Xavier turnovers and capitalized on 18 second-chance points. Rodriguez also finished with a career-high 12 rebounds, leading all players Sunday. 

Xavier had 15 steals and forced 18 turnovers but was plagued by a poor shooting effort, going 30-of-77 (39 percent) on the day. 

Arguments got heated with 3:24 remaining when Jalen Reynolds was charged with a technical foul after jawing with Delgado and Ismael Sanogo. 

Whitehead was sent to the line and sank both free throws to extend the lead to 77-64. Seton Hall went to the free-throw line six more times the rest of the way.

Xavier has to be scratching its head after coming off Wednesday’s 90-83 win over No. 1 Villanova—arguably the most monumental regular-season victory in school history. 

If this topsy-turvy season in college hoops has a distinct theme, it’s there is no clear-cut alpha dog. ESPN Stats & Info created context on just how even the field is, particularly after Xavier’s most recent loss:

Despite being unranked, Seton Hall is by no means a pushover. At 21-7 and in third place in the Big East, the Pirates are on the cusp of their first NCAA Tournament since the 2005-06 season. It would be the first bid to the Big Dance for head coach Kevin Willard, who has been prowling the Pirates’ sidelines since 2010. 

Seton Hall hasn’t been ranked at all this season, but that will likely change when the new polls release Monday. Xavier shouldn’t fall too far in the rankings and has one game remaining Saturday against Creighton to get back on track before the Big East tournament.

Postgame Reaction

Mack held Willard in high acclaim postgame, indicating Seton Hall’s run this season was one a long time coming, per Clayton Collier of WSOU and John Fanta of Pirates Sports Network:

Willard believed as far back as last year the Pirates would contend for an NCAA Tournament bid—guaranteeing it to athletic director Pat Lyons, per Chris McManus of SHUHoops.com:

Mack also said it was incredibly difficult to defend Rodriguez, who was on a roll all game, per McManus:

ESPN’s Seth Greenberg gave his assessment for why Seton Hall has catapulted this season:

Seton Hall plays Butler Wednesday and DePaul Saturday to finish the regular season and will continue to seek a higher seed for the Big Dance in the Big East Tournament.