Men's Basketball Chops Down Wake Forest, 68-54
12/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BOX SCORE (.html)
BOX SCORE (.pdf)
NEWARK, N.J. - The Seton Hall men's basketball team improved its record to 8-1 on Saturday night with a 68-54 triumph over Wake Forest. The team's current five-game win streak is the longest in the young Kevin Willard era. Wake Forest (6-4) suffered its first loss in a true road game this year, dropping to 2-1 in the visitor role.
Senior forward Herb Pope (Aliquippa, Pa.) continued to impress, posting 26 points on 8-for-9 shooting and tying his season high with 14 rebounds. Pope is now tied for first in the nation with seven double-doubles on the year. Sophomore Fuquan Edwin (Paterson, N.J.) added 14 points and six rebounds.
Travis McKie led Wake Forest with 17 points and seven rebounds. C.J. Harris contributed 12 points.
The majority of the first half was a nip-tuck affair, with each team refusing to give ground. In the first 12 minutes of action, the score featured four ties and six lead changes, culminating in a Tony Chennault layup that drew the Demon Deacons level at 14-14 with 8:34 remaining in the period. On the ensuing possession, Theodore answered with a finish at the basket, sparking an impressive SHU run. Over the next six minutes, the Pirates held Wake Forest without a field goal during a 16-3 run that opened up the score line. McKie converted from in close with 2:23 remaining to end the visitors' dry-spell but Seton Hall would respond and carried a 32-22 lead into the break.
Seton Hall shot 52.4 percent (11-21) from the field in the period, while holding Wake Forest to 36.4 percent (8-22) overall and 12.5 percent (1-8) from three-point range. SHU also doubled the Demon Deacons' output in the painted area, outscoring their opponents 16-8 from in close.
The Pirates maintained a high level of play in the second half, never relinquishing the lead. Despite improved shooting, the Demon Deacons failed to trim the deficit to less than six. A layup from Edwin gave the Pirates their biggest lead of the game at 56-40 with 7:19 remaining. Three minutes later, Wake Forest closed to within 10 at 58-48 following an old-fashioned three-point play from Harris. Seton Hall held the Demon Deacons without a field goal for the remainder of the game to put a stamp on the victory.
Jordan Theodore (Englewood, N.J.) also scored in double-figures for the Pirates, recording 14 points to go with four assists.
Seton Hall will return to the court on Sunday, December 18 when they take on the Mercer Bears at the Prudential Center in their final home tilt prior to BIG EAST conference play. Game time is scheduled for Noon.
