Pirates Suffer Home Setback to Butler, 77-66

Saturday, January 17

Newark, N.J.

12:00 p.m.

Seton Hall University

14-4,4-3Big East

Butler

11-7,2-5Big East

Butler

Seton Hall

1/17/2026 3:52:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

NEWARK, N.J. – The Seton Hall men's basketball team trimmed a second half double digit deficit down to six but could not overcome the Butler Bulldogs in a defeat, 77-66, on Saturday afternoon at Prudential Center.

AJ Staton-McCray led the Pirates with 17 points and was one of three Pirates in double figures on the day. Najai Hines secured his second double-double of the year with 11 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. Mike Williams also surpassed double figures in scoring with 11 points.

How It Happened
The Pirates came out of the gates strong, using an 8-2 run heading into the first media timeout of the day to hold the lead, 10-8. Seton Hall would keep the pedal down after the break, as buckets from Hines as well as Trey Parker and Josh Rivera increased the advantage to seven, 16-9, at the 12:22 mark of the first half.

Butler responded over the next four minutes, using a 10-2 run to go in front, 19-18, with 7:48 left before halftime. A Staton-McCray bucket after the stoppage put the Pirates back ahead momentarily, but another Butler run put the visitors up by six in the final five minutes of the opening half. Butler kept the pressure on and took a 10-point lead into the locker room.

The Bulldogs shot well out of halftime and grew their lead as large as 17 in the opening minutes of the second half. Seton Hall, well versed in backs-against-the-wall situations, chipped away once again to get the Prudential Center crowd energized. A three-pointer from Williams, followed by a Rivera dunk, pulled The Hall within 11 with 12:18 remaining. Rivera added another dunk off a fast break feed from Williams just under a minute later, and the Pirates were quickly back within single digits.

Butler was able to maintain its lead for much of the next several minutes, but the Pirates made one last push with five minutes remaining. Off a missed three-pointer, Staton-McCray grabbed the loose ball in the fight for the rebound and cashed in on the second chance opportunity. With the deficit down to six, the Pirates put on their full-court press. Butler did well to maneuver it, however, keeping the Seton Hall comeback at bay and coming away with the victory.

News & Notes

This was the 27^th all-time matchup between Seton Hall and Butler.
- The Pirates lead the all-time series, 14-13.
Hines' 16 rebounds are the most by a Pirate freshman since Angel Delgado pulled down 19 boards against Marquette on Jan. 22, 2015.
The double-digit scoring output for Staton-McCray is his 11^th of the season and snaps a three-game stretch without one.
Williams has scored in double figures in back-to-back games.

Up Next
The Pirates head across the Hudson to Madison Square Garden to take on St. John's on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. on FS1.