Hines' Shining Debut Powers Pirates Over Saint Peter's

Monday, November 3

Newark, N.J.

7:30 p.m.

Seton Hall University

1-0,0-0Big East

Saint Peter's

0-1,0-0MAAC

Saint Peter's

Seton Hall

Hines' Shining Debut Powers Pirates Over Saint Peter's

11/3/2025 10:41:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

NEWARK, N.J. — Led by 12 points from freshman Najai Hines, the Seton Hall men's basketball team defeated Saint Peter's, 77-50, in the Pirates' season opener in front of a lively crowd at The Rock.

The Pirates (1-0) found offense from everywhere, with five players scoring eight points or more and four making at least four foul shots. The Peacocks (0-1) were held under 29 percent from the field in both halves, while also recording 15 turnovers.

How It Happened
As the new season tipped off for the Pirates in Newark, hope sprang early with the Pirates' powerful defensive press. Newcomers Elijah Fisher and Mike Williams each collected steals in the opening two minutes, while logging two and four points respectively, on the way to an early 8-5 Seton Hall lead with 15:49 remaining in the half.

Coming out of that break, vaunted freshman Najai Hines entered the game amid the growing focus of the crowd. It did not take long for the former Plainfield High School man to make an impact. In the opening shift of his collegiate career, the big man amassed four points, four blocks and a rebound as he went to the bench amid raucous applause after The Hall's lead ballooned to 5, 21-16, with 9:16 left in the half.

Pirate Nation, meet Big Jah ❌ pic.twitter.com/vc9lY3PTfu
— Seton Hall Men's Basketball (@SetonHallMBB) November 4, 2025

In the interlude, the Pirates' wings began to find their way on both ends. Off the back of turnovers, both Fisher and AJ Staton-McCray drained four free throws each as The Hall's lead grew to eight points, 32-24, with 4:32 remaining. In the final minutes of the half, it was a refreshed Hines that carried the Pirates to the break. Utilizing his monstrous frame, the freshman bullied his way to an additional six points and two rebounds, raising his first half tally to 10 points, four rebounds and four blocks. In the dying moments of the half, as the Pirates smothered Saint Peter's defensively, Budd Clark capped off the half with his second three-pointer of the game to put The Hall up 13, 41-28, entering the halftime break. Those 41 points matched the Pirates' highest first-half total from last season, which occurred at Providence on January 11.

Riding the high that came from the end of the first half, the Pirates shook The Rock as they quickly went on a 6-0 run to open the second half. Senior Stephon Payne laid in a pair of buckets around the rim, while a Clark steal on a Saint Peter's inbound pushed The Hall's lead to 19, 47-28, with 18:03 left.

After a quick 3-0 run by the Peacocks, the Pirates' defense regained its first-half form and smothered Saint Peter's over the next ten minutes. While applying stifling pressure on the defensive end, Tajuan Simpkins and Trey Parker catalyzed the offensive end. Simpkins rattled off seven points, while Parker added five points as the Pirates amassed a 26-point lead, 72-36, with 7:05 remaining in the game.

Trey up top to JD‼️#DDD pic.twitter.com/BCBYAg1EWy
— Seton Hall Men's Basketball (@SetonHallMBB) November 4, 2025

Despite a Saint Peter's surge in the final minutes, Payne added another three points in the final minutes to lock in a 77-50 win for the Pirates in the season opener.

News & Notes

This was the 92^nd meeting between the two programs.
Hines' six blocks are the most by a Seton Hall freshman since Mike Davis, who also had six, at St. Mary's on Dec. 1, 2007.
His six blocks were also the most in a game since KC Ndefo tallied six against Lincoln (PA) on Dec. 7, 2022.
Ten different Pirates recorded at least one made field goal.
Of Seton Hall's 21 made field goals, 15 of them came off assists.
With the win, the Pirates move to 68-24 all-time against the Peacocks.
The Hall's 50 points allowed were the fewest in a home opener during the Holloway era.
The Pirates' 41 first-half points tied their season-high mark from last season from their Jan. 11 game against Providence.

Up Next
The Pirates are back in action on Friday, November 7, when they play host to the Wagner Seahawks inside historic Walsh Gymnasium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with opening tip slated for 7:30 p.m.