Second-Half Surge Powers Pirates Past Monmouth

Thursday, November 13

Newark, N.J.

7:00 p.m.

Seton Hall University

4-0,0-0Big East

Monmouth

1-2,0-0CAA

Monmouth

Seton Hall

11/13/2025 10:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

NEWARK, N.J. — After facing a halftime deficit, the Seton Hall men's basketball team defeated the Monmouth Hawks, 70-58, on the back of a second-half surge inside the Prudential Center.

The Pirates (4-0) shot 50 percent from the field in their second-half surge while stifling defensive play led to double-digit steals and blocks. Meanwhile, the Hawks (1-2) suffered 20% (4-20) shooting from the field in the second with ten turnovers.

How It Happened
In the opening minutes, the Pirates quickly found themselves chasing the Hawks around The Rock while facing an early deficit. Eventually, TJ Simpkins would pull the Pirates in front, 7-6, with 14:16 remaining to put the Pirates in front for the first time.

Yet, Monmouth instantly regained their momentum, rattling off a 67-3 run to go back up four, 13-9, less than three minutes later. Instead of Simpkins, the Pirates turned to AJ Staton-McCray in their search for a response. It didn't take long for Staton-McCray to make his mark, as the veteran rattled off back-to-back threes to send The Hall in front, 15-13, with just over ten minutes left in the half.

Back-to-back triples for AJ 🫡 pic.twitter.com/JqYKlcRImn
— Seton Hall Men's Basketball (@SetonHallMBB) November 14, 2025

For the majority of the final ten minutes, the two sides remained locked in a defensive stalemate, as neither could gain momentum. However, the Hawks closed the half on a 10-5 run to put the Pirates down seven, 34-27, heading into half facing their first deficit after 20 minutes this season.

With an uneasy crowd surrounding the court, The Hall came out of the break flying up and down the court. Inside the first two minutes, baskets from Elijah Fisher and Mike Williams pulled the Pirates within two points. A pair of free throws from Staton-McCray later, the Pirates tied the game back up, 34-34, with 18:31 left in the half. Both defenses locked down in the aftermath of Seton Hall's run, but the Pirates cashed in on a three-pointer to regain the lead. A fleet-footed Najai Hines completed a three-point play to extend that lead to four, 40-36, as the clock ticked under 15 minutes.

Kick out ➡️ Extra pass ➡️ Tajuan drains it pic.twitter.com/k5Xpr9syHC
— Seton Hall Men's Basketball (@SetonHallMBB) November 14, 2025

As the clock ticked over the ten-minute mark, The Hall had expanded its lead to eight, 47-39, thanks to a 5-2 run driven entirely by Budd Clark at the center of the offense. Monmouth pulled within as many as six points with 7:42 remaining in the game. As the pressure rose in the building, however, the Pirates did not falter. Off the back of five points from Mike Williams, The Hall blitzed the Hawks with an 11-0 run to jump back in front by 18, 66-48, with mere minutes left in Newark.

Despite the deficit, Monmouth would not leave The Rock quietly. A quick 7-0 run by the Hawks caused momentary concern for the Pirates and their fans. Clark and Jacob Dar shut the door on Monmouth with under a minute remaining to secure the 70-58 victory.

News & Notes

This was the 17^th meeting between the two programs.
With the win, the Pirates move to 16-1 against Monmouth.
Seton Hall had had at least three double-digit scorers in all four games so far this season.
This is the second consecutive season the Pirates have held the their first four opponents under 62 points.
Seton Hall held the Hawks without a basket for the first 7:10 of the second half.
The Pirates recorded their fourth consecutive game with 8+ blocks and 9+ steals.
- This was also their second game with double-digit steals and blocks.
- Seton Hall's 13 steals were a season high and the most since their 75-72 win over Saint Joseph's in the opening round of the 2024 NIT.
Clark recorded a season-high 13 points, six assists and four steals in 29 minutes.
Simpkins recorded his third game with double-digit points this season.
Staton-McCray and Williams recorded their second-consecutive games with double-digit points.
Hines recorded his third game of the season with 8+ rebounds.
- His seven blocks are the most in the game by a Pirate since Ike Obiagu recorded seven against Georgetown on March 9, 2022.

Up Next
The Pirates are back in action on Tuesday, November 18, when they play host to the New Haven Chargers at the Prudential Center. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with opening tip slated for 7:00 p.m.