Seton Hall University
Butler
#21 Hall Edged by Butler in OT
1/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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NEWARK, N.J. - Junior Sterling Gibbs (Scotch Plains, N.J.) continued his torrid start to BIG EAST play, pouring in 30 points on Tuesday night but a late Pirates charge fell just short at the Prudential Center as the #21 Seton Hall men's basketball team rallied to force overtime but ultimately sustained its first home loss of the season, dropping a 79-75 to the visiting Butler Bulldogs in a wire-to-wire contest.
The Pirates tied the game up three times in the final 70 seconds of regulation to force the extra period but could not capitalize on four consecutive chances to move ahead after winning the tip to open overtime. Kellen Dunham came down and connected on a straight-away 3-pointer on the ensuing possession that put Butler (13-5, 3-2 BIG EAST) ahead for good as the Bulldogs scored their third win over a ranked team away from home this season.
The setback snapped a nine-game home winning streak for Seton Hall (13-4, 3-3 BIG EAST) that dated back to last year and was just the third for the Pirates in 30 games since the beginning of the 2013-14 campaign in which they have taken a lead into halftime.
Despite the result, Gibbs continued to shine, finishing 9-of-16 from the floor and 6-of-9 from downtown. He has posted four 20+-point outings in five league games, more than the two he posted in 17 BIG EAST appearances a year ago, and is now averaging 21.0 points and 4.8 assists per game since the start of league play.
The Seton Hall Prep product pulled SHU back to within one after Butler recorded the first four points of overtime; knocking down his sixth triple of the game at the 2:32 mark but was forced to sit after being whistled for his fifth foul on the Bulldogs' next trip. Dunham sank both freebies and though Desi Rodriguez (Bronx, N.Y.) cut the deficit back to one with a slam, Butler junior Roosevelt Jones took over down the stretch to seal the victory.
Jones got to the basket for a reverse layup to answer Rodriguez and followed by blocking a jumper from Khadeen Carrington (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and converting late in the shot clock on the other end to give Butler a 77-72 edge with 16 seconds to play.
Carrington was instrumental in The Hall's late surge, scoring 14 of his season-high 20 points after halftime and adding two assists without a turnover in 36 minutes of action. Classmate Angel Delgado (Bajos De Haina, Dominican Republic) chipped in his fifth double-double of the season, finishing with 12 points and 15 rebounds.
It was Carrington and Delgado who provided the support for Gibbs in the second half as the three scored 33 of the team's 35 points in the frame. Gibbs helped the Pirates overcome a stretch of 7:52 without a field goal to open the second period, awakening the offense with a trey that curbed Butler's growing lead, pulling SHU to within five at 46-41 with 12:08 remaining in regulation.
The junior went on to account for the team's next three field goals as well, a stretch that spanned over eight minutes, until he found Delgado for a lay-in at the 3:56 mark. Carrington erupted in the final 2:30 of regulation, scoring 11 of the team's 13 points down the stretch and knotting the score at 67-67 with a contested jumper in the lane.
The Pirates struggled to find easy looks after the break though, scoring just 12 points in the paint over the final 25 minutes to 22 for Butler.
Butler shot out to an 11-4 lead at the outset of the contest but a highlight, right-handed layup from Carrington at the 12:23 mark ignited a run of six consecutive made shots for The Hall; the final two of which came from Delgado whose layup with 8:50 remaining before the break gave SHU a 17-15 edge.
The Bulldogs responded by scoring seven unanswered points but Gibbs returned the favor for the Pirates soon after, knocking down two treys and adding a free throw in a span of 80 seconds to move Seton Hall back in front, 24-22. The Hall maintained its advantage for the rest of the period, limiting Butler to just two makes on its final eight field goal attempts of the half to take a lead into the break for the 13th time in 17 outings.
Seton Hall shot 50.0 percent from the floor (13-of-26) in the opening period despite a scoring drought of 5:29 in the early going and recorded nine of its 13 field goals from inside the paint. The bench played a large role for the squad in the opening frame as well, out-scoring the Butler reserves 11-to-3.
Jones racked up 23 points and eight boards for Butler while Dunham finished with 21 points. Down low, Kameron Woods was a major factor, contributing nine points and 15 rebounds of his own.
The Hall will return to the Prudential Center after an extended layoff when DePaul visits The Rock on Thursday, January 22 for a 7 p.m. matchup. The action will once again be shown live nationally on FOX Sports 1 and the FOX Sports Go app while the Seton Hall radio team of Gary Cohen and Dave Popkin will have the call for AM970 (WNYM) and the Pirate Sports Network on SHUPirates.com.
To purchase tickets, click HEREor call the Seton Hall Ticket Office at 973-275-HALL (4255)
