Seton Hall University
DePaul
Gibbs' 21 not enough as Hall falls at DePaul
2/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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Rosemont, Ill. - Junior Sterling Gibbs (Scotch Plains, N.J.) scored 21 points for his seventh game of 20-plus scoring in BIG EAST play, but the Seton Hall men's basketball team ran into a hot-shooting DePaul squad that shot 50.8 percent as the Blue Demons came away with a 75-62 victory Tuesday at Allstate Arena.
The game was much closer than the final score indicated as there were nine ties and 10 lead changes. The Pirates (15-7, 5-5 BIG EAST), though buoyed by their 23-for-26 free throw shooting, shot only 36 percent for the night and just 3-for-15 from three-point range. DePaul (12-12, 6-5 BIG EAST) was only 5-for-21 from three-point range, but the Blue Demons made up for it by making 65.8 percent of their two-point attempts.
Seton Hall trailed for most of the evening, but fought back from a six-point deficit to tie the game, thanks to excellent free throw shooting. Gibbs made three free throws after DePaul went up 54-48, then freshman Isaiah Whitehead (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Gibbs each drew fouls and made all four attempts. With 6:46 remaining, Whitehead drove into the lane and made a wild shot that swooshed and drew the foul. His three-point play put DePaul's lead at one, 59-58.
The game was tied at 61-61 after two more Whitehead free throws when DePaul's Billy Garrett Jr., drove to the basket for layup and then banged home a three-pointer after Seton Hall had missed one, giving the Blue Demons a five-point advantage, 66-61, with 3:02 to play. After a Pirates turnover, the Blue Demons hit the dagger three as Durrell McDonald beat the shot clock with a long triple for an eight-point lead that The Hall could not overcome.
The loss overshadowed a strong performance from Gibbs, who had nine points and four assists in the first half. He had a great feed to senior Brandon Mobley (Savannah, Ga.) on a bounce pass that led to a layup, followed by a three-pointer at the 7:03 mark that gave the Pirates a 21-19 advantage.
Gibbs went on to assist layups for Mobley again and freshman Angel Delgado (Bajos De Haina, Dominican Republic) as Seton Hall had a four-point lead, 27-23, with 4:20 to go. But DePaul's Jamee Crockett, who had 21 points on the night, scored eight points in the final 3:04, including a jumper with under a minute to play to send the Blue Demons into halftime leading 35-33.
In addition to Gibbs and Crockett scoring 21, Garrett Jr. added 20 points, and Whitehead had 14. Freshman Desi Rodriguez (Bronx, N.Y.) posted nine points and six rebounds. For Gibbs, it was his third consecutive 20-point outing, and he is now averaging 19.0 points during conference play.
Seton Hall returns to Prudential Center Saturday when the Pirates host Marquette at noon. The game will be carried nationally on CBS Sports Network, and Gary Cohen and Dave Popkin will have the call on AM970, Sirius 108 and XM 201. For tickets to the game, click here. or call (973) 275-HALL.
