Men's Basketball Clips Rutgers, 76-70

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NEWARK, N.J. - As most Seton Hall and Rutgers men's basketball fans know, no lead is safe when these teams get together and Tuesday night was no different. The Pirates led by as many as 18-points in the first half, but had to hold off a pesky Scarlet Knight team in the second to earn a 76-70 victory at Prudential Center.

The Pirates (16-10, 7-8) were led by junior Jeremy Hazell (Harlem, N.Y.) scored 25 points. Sophomore Jordan Theodore (Englewood, N.J.) scored 12 points and handed out six assists with no turnovers. Sophomore Herb Pope (Aliquippa, Pa.) pulled down 12 rebounds and added six points.

Both teams got off to solid starts and Rutgers (14-14, 4-11) was within three after a three-point play with 15:52 to go in the first half. Seton Hall exploded with a 16-1 run over a five-minute span, capped by a reverse layup by Robert Mitchell (Brooklyn, N.Y.), to stretch the lead to 28-10.

A turnaround jumper by Hazell maintained the 18-point cushion with 5:22 before the break, and the Pirates took a 44-29 edge into halftime.

Seton Hall continued to control the pace for much of the second half, but the Scarlet Knights put together a late rally. Trailing 68-55, Mike Rosario sparked a 9-0 spurt with a three-pointer and an old-fashioned three-point play to pull his team within four with 2:37 left on the clock.

On the next possession, senior Eugene Harvey (Brooklyn, N.Y.) hit a tough layup with the shot-clock running down to stop the run, and then came up with a steal and fed Jeff Robinson (Trenton, N.J.) for a slam-dunk to make it 72-64 with 1:48 remaining in regulation.

Rutgers had a chance to pull closer after the Pirates missed three front ends of one-and-one opportunities, but the Scarlet Knights could not capitalize on the other end of the floor, and Seton Hall held on for the win.

Rosario led Rutgers with 17 points. Dane Miller had 16 points and five blocks.

The Pirates held the Scarlet Knights to 38.2 percent shooting and scored 23 points off of 16 turnovers. Rutgers held a 49-37 edge on the glass.

Seton Hall will host Marquette for Senior Day on Sunday, February 28. Tip-off is set for noon.