Seton Hall University
10-8,7-5Big East
Providence
9-9,5-7Big East
Pirates Turn in Historic Defensive Effort at PC; Willard Wins 200th
2/3/2021 10:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Pirates limited Providence to 17 made field goals, 34 percent shooting and only six made threes while also forcing 16 Friars turnovers and scoring 20 points off those turnovers. Seton Hall's previous conference games low for points allowed was 47 against South Florida on Jan 23, 2013.
Senior best friends Sandro Mamukelashvili (Tbilisi, Georgia) and Myles Cale (Middletown, Del.) led the Pirates offensively with 39 combined points, scoring 20 and 19, respectively.
The win was the 200th in head coach Kevin Willard's Seton Hall career. He's only the third coach in program history to reach the milestone, joining Honey Russell (294) and P.J. Carlesimo (200).
Here's all of the 🎥 you need from tonight's win over the Friars!#HALLin 🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/ixOYkLtFYs
— Seton Hall Men's Basketball (@SetonHallMBB) February 4, 2021
Turning Point
The Hall struggled with shooting in the first half, but its strong defense kept it in the game, turning nine Friars turnovers into 10 points as Providence went into the break up 25-22.
However, it was all Pirates from the get-go in the second half. Mamukelashvili got it going with a layup, a steal and two free throws after getting fouled, giving the Pirates their first lead of the game before a minute had gone by.
The Pirates continued to hound the Friars on defense with great pressure, and Providence kept faltering. The Friars were 5-for-18 from the field with six turnovers in the first 13:53 of the second half until Noah Horchler made baskets in back-to-back possessions with 7:07 and 6:31 to go. But by that point the Pirates had built a 13-point lead with Cale getting a fastbreak layup from senior Bryce Aiken's (Randolph, N.J.) steal and feed.
The Pirates put the game away by holding Providence scoreless from 6:31 until Brycen Goodine made a late three with 1:18 to go. Mamukelashvili then provided the punctuation with a three-pointer to put the Pirates on top, 60-43, which was the final.
Inside the Numbers
- Seton Hall shot 39 percent for the game (23-for-59), just 17 percent from three (4-for-24) and 91 percent at the free throw line (10-for-11). The Friars shot 34 percent overall (17-for-50), 33 percent from deep (6-for-18) and 38 percent at the free throw line (3-for-8).
- The Pirates had started the game missing their first 16 three-point attempts before rebounding to make four of their last eight. Seton Hall has now made a three-pointer in 391 straight games dating back to 2009.
- Providence had the edge in rebounds, 37-36, but the Pirates dominated in paint points, 38-16.
- The Hall also had 10 fastbreak points compared to zero for Providence.
- Mamukelashvili led all scorers with 20 points. He was 8-for-16 from the field also had seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
- Cale was fantastic on both ends of the floor. He finished with 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting, grabbed six rebounds and had two steals.
- The point guard tandem of Aiken and senior Shavar Reynolds Jr. (Manchester, N.J.) combined for seven assists and just two turnovers.
News & Notes
- The Pirates improved to 7-5 in the BIG EAST, currently standing in fifth place.
- Seton Hall is now 2-0 all-time in BIG EAST games played at Providence's Alumni Hall. The last time was the completion of a 2018 suspended game.
- The Pirates have now won eight of their last 12 matchups with the Friars.
- The Hall has now won its last 16 BIG EAST games when holding its opponent under 70 points.
- Seton Hall's 43 points allowed is the fewest in a BIG EAST conference game and the third-fewest ever against a BIG EAST opponent. The Pirates allowed just 42 to South Florida in a 2013 BIG EAST Tournament game and gave up only 40 to Georgetown in a 2001 BIG EAST Tournament game.
- When including non-conference games, the last time Seton Hall allowed 43 points or fewer was on Dec. 27, 2014, a 72-43 win over Maine.
- The Pirates are 11-4 in their last 15 BIG EAST road games dating back to last season. They also now have 26 BIG EAST road wins since the start of the 2015-16 season, tied for second-most in the conference.
- The Pirates are now 110-15 (.880) since 2015-16 when leading by seven points or more at any juncture of the contest.
- Willard became the third Pirates coach to reach the 200 wins milestone, joining Honey Russell, who won 294 games, and P.J. Carlesimo, who won 212 games.
- Mamukelashvili moved into 48th place all-time in Seton Hall scoring history. He now has 946 career points.
- Cale moved into 57th place and now stands at 898 points.
How did our defense respond? 🤔
— Seton Hall Men's Basketball (@SetonHallMBB) February 4, 2021
How about the fewest points we've 𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙍 allowed in a BIG EAST Conference game.#HALLin 🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/2D6cXd8hRa
Up Next
Seton Hall will return to New England Saturday for an early matinee with an old foe as the Pirates face Connecticut in Storrs, Conn., at noon. The game will be nationally televised on the FOX Broadcast Network with Brian Custer and Jim Spanarkel on the call. Gary Cohen and Dave Popkin will also be live from Storrs on WMCA 570 AM, XM 385, the Pirate Sports Network and TuneIn.
