BOX SCORE
PROVIDENCE, R.I.The Seton Hall men’s basketball team fell to Providence, 91-69 on Saturday evening at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. The Pirates fall to 9-5 and 1-1 in BIG EAST play while Providence improves to 12-3 and 2-0 in the league. Junior Brian Laing (Bronx, N.Y.) led the Pirates with 24 points.
Aside from Laing, who added four rebounds to go with his 24 points, three other Pirates scored in double digits. Freshman Eugene Harvey (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored 16 points and dished out two assists and two steals. Junior Jamar Nutter (Bloomfield, N.J.) had a solid game with 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Freshman Larry Davis (Middle Village, N.Y.) was also impressive with 12 points, six rebounds and four steals. The Pirates shot 40% from the field, while the Friars shot 50%. Seton Hall was out-rebounded by 21, a 47-26 margin.
Although Providence scored the first 12 points of the game, the Pirates chipped into the lead as the first half progressed and fought their way back. Led by Davis’ eight points and Laing’s seven, the Pirates used a 19-5 run to take their first lead of the game at 10:38, 19-17. The lead changed six times by the end of the half, but Providence took the lead 38-32 heading into the locker rooms.
Providence’s size advantage proved to be a factor in the second half, as Seton Hall was worn down by the play of the Friar’s inside men. Herbert Hill, a 6’11’’ center, scored 10 of the teams first 13 points of the game and Providence kept the lead for the remainder of the contest. Seton Hall’s power forward, Stan Gaines, fouled out of the game with 7:40 remaining with the Pirates’ down 12, 66-54, to give the Friars more room to score in the inside. Providence used the size advantage to their benefit and gradually increased the lead for a 91-69 final score.
In addition to Providence’s Hill scoring 25 points, he added nine rebounds and four blocks. Geoff McDermott added 14 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and four steals, while Weyinmi Efejuku recorded 24 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Seton Hall will host St. John’s on Thursday, Jan. 11, at Continental Airlines Arena. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN and will be broadcast via WABC 770 AM.
