Pirates Host Central Connecticut State in First Post-Maui Clash

Wednesday, December 3

South Orange, N.J.

7:00 p.m.

Seton Hall University

Central Connecticut State

Pirates Host Central Connecticut State in First Post-Maui Clash

12/2/2025 5:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Game Notes (PDF)Game Program Buy Tickets Listen Watch (ESPN+)

SETON HALL PIRATES (7-1) vs. CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE (5-2)

Date/Time: Wednesday, Dec. 3 • 7 p.m. Eastern
Site: South Orange, N.J. • Walsh Gymnasium (1,316)
TV: ESPN+ • Ed Cohen & Tarik Turner
Online: Watch ESPN App
Radio: SHU Pirates Mobile App • Gary Cohen & Matt Ambrose
SHUPirates.com • Varsity Network App
Seton Hall All-Time vs. Central Connecticut State: 5-0

NOTES YOU NEED TO KNOW

The Pirates return to New Jersey after a productive trip to Maui, going 2-1 to capture third place at the Southwest Maui Invitational.
AJ Staton-McCray was named BIG EAST Player of the Week on Monday for his efforts in Hawaii, averaging 19,7 ppg en route to earning All-Tournament Team honors.
Seton Hall's trip to the Valley Isle was highlighted by a 85-74 win over No. 23 NC State on Monday, the first win by an unranked team over a ranked team this season.
The Pirates' 7-1 start is their best since the 2021-22 season (started 9-1).
Budd Clark played his best game of the season on Tuesday in the loss to USC, finishing with a team-best 18 points to go with seven assists and just two turnovers.
Elijah Fisher surpassed the 1,000 point mark for his career on Tuesday against USC.
The Pirates have scored at least 68 points in their first eight games for the first time since 2019-20.
Seton Hall has had at least three double-digit scorers in all seven games so far this season.
The victory over the Wolfpack on Monday snapped The Hall's seven-game losing streak against ranked opponents.
The 11-point margin was Seton Hall's largest victory over an AP Top 25 non-conference foe since defeating No. 23 Virginia, 74-60, on Nov. 23, 2007.
It was also Seton Hall's first win over a ranked non-conference foe since downing No. 7 Texas at home on Dec. 9, 2021.
The Pirates' six-game winning streak was their longest under Shaheen Holloway. The last time The Hall won six straight was Feb. 19-March 9, 2022.
Seton Hall boasts the 10th-best scoring defense in the country (61.4) and is fourth in blocks per game (7.4).
Six different Pirates scored in double figures against NC State, a first for the team since Dec. 1, 2021 against Wagner.
AJ Staton-McCray led the Pirates with 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting, the most points a Seton Hall player has scored in a game this season.
Freshman Najai Hines had to shoulder a heavy load off the bench after starting center Stephon Payne entered early foul trouble. Hines thrived, scoring 10 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting.
Budd Clark and Tajuan Simpkins each played key roles down the stretch of Monday's win. Both guards scored 11 points in the second half, with Clark adding five steals overall on the game.
Freshman Najai Hines has been the leader in rim protection so far this season for The Hall, as his 2.5 blocks per game sits 14th in the nation and second in the BIG EAST.
Fellow frontcourt mate Stephon Payne ranks third in the conference with 1.75 blocks per game.
Hines swatted seven shots in Seton Hall's 70-58 win over Monmouth, the most blocks by a Pirate since Ike Obiagu (7) on March 9, 2022.
Hines recorded his first career double-double against Fairfield, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Hines' double-double came in his third career game, the fastest Pirate freshman to do so since Angel Delgado in 2014 (also his third game).
Elijah Fisher led all scorers with 21 points on an efficient 8-of-14 shooting from the floor in the win over Wagner on Nov. 7.
Seton Hall played five consecutive home games to open the season for the first time since 1981-82.
Seton Hall welcomes in 11 newcomers to the program to join a group of four returnees, highlighted by sophomores Godswill Erheriene and Jahseem Felton.
Of those 11 newcomers, 10 players transfer into the program.
Last season was an outlier in terms of Holloway's performances in conference play, finishing below .500 in league games for just the second time in seven seasons as a head coach.
Holloway's first two seasons at Seton Hall were the winningest in program history in terms of both overall and BIG EAST wins.