Simpkins, Clark Shine as The Hall Charge Past Xavier, 86-68

Wednesday, January 28

Newark, N.J.

7:30 p.m.

Seton Hall University

15-6,5-5Big East

Xavier

11-10,3-7Big East

Xavier

Seton Hall

Simpkins, Clark Shine as The Hall Charge Past Xavier, 86-68

1/28/2026 11:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

NEWARK, N.J. — Off the back of a career nights from Tajaun Simpkins and Budd Clark, the Seton Hall men's basketball team downed the Xavier Musketeers, 86-68, inside the Prudential Center. Simpkins finished with a game-high 27 points, the most by any Pirate this season, while Clark had a sensational all-around game with 24 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals.

The Pirates (15-6, 5-5 BE) shot 75 percent (21-of-28) from the free-throw line and had 24 points off of turnovers. The Musketeers (11-10, 3-7 BE) committed 19 turnovers and scored 20 points in the paint.

How It Happened
As the temperature dropped to bitter levels outside the arena, the Pirates found nothing sweet on either end of the floor in the opening minutes. Indoors, as Xavier crowded the paint, The Hall struggled to find breathing room to run its offensive style. On the defensive end, the Musketeers moved the ball faster than they could defend. After nearly four minutes of play, Head Coach Shaheen Holloway was forced to call a timeout. Seton Hall stared down an early 11-2 deficit.

As the half progressed, even as the Pirates began to find their way offensively, the deficit would grow to as many as 13, 24-11. Slowly but surely, however, the deficit began to shrink off the back of the guards, finding their groove. What began with strong shooting from Tajuan Simpkins bled into aggressive play from Budd Clark. Clark logged three points, three rebounds, and two steals, alongside an essential four points from Jacob Dar, to make it only a seven-point hole, 26-19, with just under six minutes left in the half. However, Xavier responded in kind, growing Seton Hall's deficit to 11, 41-30, on a 15-11 run to end the half and gave the Musketeers' Tre Carroll 22 points at the break.

AJ ➡️ JD pic.twitter.com/pMb0te4oDG
— Seton Hall Men's Basketball (@SetonHallMBB) January 29, 2026

Staring down another double-digit deficit, the Pirates came out of the break breathing fire in every phase of the game. Clark and Simpkins rattled the Musketeers' offense, collecting a trio of steals on one end, allowing the latter to collect a quick nine points on a blistering 14-0 run to take the lead, 43-41, after just over four minutes of game time in the half.

How 'bout a 12-0 run to start the half? pic.twitter.com/ylThPaCyXk
— Seton Hall Men's Basketball (@SetonHallMBB) January 29, 2026

With the crowd now surging inside The Rock, it became a war between the two sides for the game's momentum. Xavier responded quickly by tying the game up once again, but The Hall came back with an effort exceeding that of the earlier run. Defensively, the Pirates engaged in a no-quarter duel, denying switches and closing down the visitors on every opportunity. Offensively, AJ Staton-McCray added six points, alongside Clark and an aflame Simpkins, to cap off a 19-6 half-opening run to give the team a 55-47 lead with 12:45 remaining in the game.

It's Twin's night 🙌🙌🙌 pic.twitter.com/qLprIYrK2H
— Seton Hall Men's Basketball (@SetonHallMBB) January 29, 2026

Even as the lead fell to as many as four, The Hall's relentless attack buried Xavier once and for all. Najai Hines added four points and dominated the glass, Simpkins added the exclamation point from deep and Clark iced the game at the line inside the final minute. As the buzzer sounded, The Hall completed the double-digit comeback to secure the 86-68 win.

News & Notes

The Hall's 56 second-half points were its most in a half since scoring 57 in the second half at DePaul on January 13, 2022.
This was the 32^nd matchup all time between the two programs.
- With the win, The Hall moves to 17-15 all time against the Blue Demons.
Seton Hall has held 18 of 21 opponents under 70 points this season.
- They've also held 11 of them to 65 points or less.
The Pirates recorded 80 or more points for the fifth time this season.
This was the Pirates first game with two players scoring 20 or more points since hosting DePaul on January 8, 2025.
The Hall's 14 steals were the most since their 14 against Wagner on November 5, 2019.
Simpkins tied his career high of 27 points and set a new career high with five made three-pointers.
- This was the most points by any Pirate in a game since Isaiah Coleman scored 27 against Marquette on January 21, 2025.
- His 27 points was the most off the bench by a Pirate since Kadary Richmond who also scored 27 against UConn on January 8, 2022.
- The five-made threes were the most by a Seton Hall player since Dylan Addae-Wusu's five against DePaul on January 8, 2025.
- It was the most threes off the bench since Jamir Harris made six against Nyack on December 4, 2021.
Clark recorded both a season-high 24 points and seven rebounds.
- This was Clark's tenth career game with 20+ points and five rebounds.
- It was also his 25^th career game with 4 or more steals.
Dar recorded a season-high ten points

Up Next
The Pirates return to action on Saturday, January 31, when they play host to the Marquette Golden Eagles. The game will be broadcast on NBCSN and Peacock with opening tip slated for 12 p.m.`