Seton Hall University
19-7,11-3Big East
Butler
19-8,7-7Big East
Mamukelashvili's Buzzer-Beater Stuns Butler, 74-72
2/19/2020 9:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Butler made a furious rally late with three-pointers on three consecutive possessions, the third of which tied the game at 72 with 10 seconds to go. A missed jumper by senior Quincy McKnight (Bridgeport, Conn.) went out of bounds off Butler, which kept Seton Hall in possession with only 0.6 seconds left. Mamukelashvili caught a lob from McKnight on the inbound pass and scored in one motion for the game-winner.
Seton Hall (19-7) remains one game ahead of Creighton for first place in the BIG EAST standings, holding an 11-3 record. It's the most BIG EAST wins the Pirates have posted since a 12-6 mark in 2015-16.
Four Pirates scored at least 15 points in a balanced offensive showing. McKnight led The Hall with 18 points and was 10-for-11 from the free-throw line, including 4-for-4 with under 30 seconds remaining.
Senior All-America candidate Myles Powell (Trenton, N.J.) scored 16 points to go with six rebounds, five assists and two steals. Mamukelashvili finished with 15 points on 7-for-12 shooting with six rebounds. Senior Romaro Gill (St. Thomas, Jamaica) had 15 points on 5-for-7 shooting from the field and team-highs of seven rebounds and two blocks.
💪 with 0.6 on the clock. #HALLin @Mamukelashvili5 pic.twitter.com/hVQPamjmBY
— Seton Hall Basketball (@SetonHallMBB) February 20, 2020
What Happened:
Seton Hall got off to a slow start offensively and Butler assumed control in the first half. The Bulldog lead got as high as 10 points on two occasions, the latter of which was on a three-pointer by Bryce Golden with 10:12 left in the opening half.
A pair of free-throws by Gill with 22 seconds left in the first half sent the Pirates into the locker room down six, 34-28.
Trailing 44-40 with 12:13 left to play, Seton Hall went on an 8-0 run, and a three-pointer by Myles Cale (Middletown, Del.) gave it a 48-44 advantage with just under 10:00 to go.
A dunk by Gill off a pretty feed inside from Powell gave The Hall its largest lead of the game, 68-63, with only 1:04 left to play, but a three-pointer by Butler's Jordan Tucker cut the lead to three with only 31 seconds remaining. McKnight answered with two made free throws to boost the Pirate advantage back to 70-66, but Butler's Sean McDermott hit a three to again cut the deficit to one possession. Again, two more made free-throws by McKnight boosted the Pirate lead up, 72-69, but a Butler three-pointer on a third straight possession, with 10 seconds left, tied the game at 72. That set up Mamukelashvili's final second heroics.
📣 Postgame sound from tonight's dramatic win over Butler❗️#HALLin pic.twitter.com/xkteLV6vgs
— Seton Hall Basketball (@SetonHallMBB) February 20, 2020
Inside the Numbers:
- Seton Hall was 24-for-52 (46.2%) from the floor for the game, while Butler was 27-for-55 (49.1%). The Hall was 6-for-16 (37.5%) from three-point range, while the Bulldogs were 7-for-21 (33.3%).
- The Hall out-rebounded Butler, 32-to-25, which included a 9-to-6 edge in offensive rebounds and a 15-to-7 advantage in second chance points.
- Seton Hall was a season-best 20-for-22 (90.9%) from the free-throw line, while the Bulldogs were 11-for-15 (73.3%).
- Seton Hall forced 11 turnovers, while Butler forced 12. Seton Hall had 10 points off turnovers, compared to 18 for Butler.
- McKnight had a team-high 18 points and was 10-for-11 from the free-throw line.
- Powell finished with 16 points to go with six rebounds, two steals and a team-best five assists.
- Mamukelashvili had 15 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the floor to go with six rebounds.
- Gill finished with 15 points on 5-for-7 shooting in addition to team-highs of seven rebounds and two blocks.
- The victory improves Seton Hall to 19-7 overall and 11-3 in the BIG EAST, while Butler falls to 19-8 overall and 7-7 in conference play.
- Seton Hall improves to 7-9 all-time against Butler and has now won six of their last eight games in the series, including a regular season sweep this year.
- Tonight's victory is the 25th over an AP top-25 team for Seton Hall during Kevin Willard's tenure. Furthermore, the Pirates are now 4-3 against ranked opponents this season, which includes a pair of victories over a ranked Butler squad.
- This was Seton Hall's ninth "Quad 1" victory, and the Pirates are now 14-7 against "Quad 1+2" teams this season.
- Powell reached double-figures in scoring for the 20th time this season and the 99th time of his career.
- Seton Hall is now 136-62 (.687) all-time at Prudential Center, which includes a 64-51 (.557) mark against BIG EAST competition.
Tonight was Seton Hall vs. Cancer Night. Thanks to all the auction winners who helped us support @AmericanCancer. #HALLin pic.twitter.com/PydBc6Pn1W
— Seton Hall Basketball (@SetonHallMBB) February 20, 2020
Up Next:
Seton Hall will return to action on Sunday, Feb. 23 when it hosts local BIG EAST rival St. John's at Prudential Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on CBS, while Gary Cohen and Dave Popkin will call it on the radio on AM 970 The Answer, simulcast on the Pirate Sports Network.
Seton Hall students should be sure to get to Walsh Gymnasium that morning as the athletics department is once again hosting Morning Madness. Doors to Walsh Gym open at 10:00 a.m. One lucky student will win $1,000, and another student will have a chance to win $10,000 with a half-court shot. The first 500 students to attend the pregame event will receive a free Morning Madness long-sleeve shirt.
