Pirate Moments Presented by BURG: Stunning 'Nova
7/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The 2014-15 year was another to remember in Seton Hall Athletics, as the Pirates continued to rise in their second year as a member of the revamped BIG EAST Conference.
Highlighted by three NCAA Regional berths (Volleyball, Women's Basketball, Women's Golf), there was no shortage of memorable moments across all 14 varsity athletic programs as Seton Hall student-athletes continued to honor and further the university's proud athletic tradition.
Over the next three weeks, SHUPirates.com in conjunction with BURG will reveal its countdown of the year that was.
STUNNING 'NOVA
All the cards were falling into place for a classic. A game sold out nearly two weeks before tip-off. A young team riding the thrill of having just beaten a top-15 team in St. John's. An undefeated, top-10 rival coming to town. A fan base filled with memories of a captivating buzzer-beater a few months prior against the same team.
Yes, Seton Hall and its fans were ready for Villanova at Prudential Center, and the Pirates did not disappoint.
It started with a bang. Two early Villanova turnovers combined with two quick Pirate buckets got the fans fired up. Angel Delgado buried a pair of layups to make it 10-1. A three-pointer by Haralds Karlis gave The Hall its largest lead of the half, 14 points, less than seven minutes into the game. The fans were now delirious, looking to bury the Wildcats for good before the halftime buzzer sounded.
However, that would not be the script, not against a nationally ranked, 13-0 Villanova team. Behind Daniel Ochefu, the Wildcats went on an 11-2 run to close within five. The Pirates took the punch well and held their ground, settling for a four-point advantage at the break.
Villanova then turned on the jets, scoring seven points in the first 49 seconds of the second half to take a three-point edge. The Pirates went on to trail for the next 13 minutes of the game, but never by more than five points, meaning they were always within striking distance.
With the game winding down, Khadeen Carrington stepped up. He stole the ball from Nova's JayVaughn Pinkston and cashed in with a layup to tie it all up at 54-54 with under three minutes to play. He then connected on a layup with his off hand with just over a minute remaining to put the Pirates on top, 58-56, though the Wildcats ultimately tied the game and sent it to overtime.
In the final minutes of the extra frame, Carrington drove towards the basket, made a spin move around a defender in the paint and finished the pretty layup to turn a one-point deficit into a one-point lead, sending the Prudential Center crowd of 10,701 into a frenzy. He calmly sank two big free throws at the end, and a pair of Wildcat turnovers sealed the upset win for the Pirates, who then celebrated with the incredible student section supporters in the stands.
Everything came together that day for an experience Pirates fans won't soon forget.
