Seton Hall Secures Victory Over Monmouth with Dominant Second Half

Post by : Mara Rahim

On Thursday night in Newark, New Jersey, Seton Hall triumphed over Monmouth 70-58 in a nonconference clash. The Pirates, initially trailing by seven at halftime, showcased an impressive turnaround. With enhanced shooting and solid defense, they took command in the latter half to clinch the win.

TJ Simpkins was the standout performer for Seton Hall, contributing 14 points, which included a pivotal three-pointer that gave the team a decisive lead 15:41 into the second half. His efforts were bolstered by key contributions from teammates who played crucial roles in this turnaround.

A.J. Staton-McCray and Adam Clark each scored 13 points, sustaining the Pirates' offensive momentum. Monmouth's Stefanos Spartalis led his team with 16 points, but they struggled to maintain their scoring pace during crucial moments of the game.

Seton Hall's defense proved pivotal, limiting Monmouth to just four field goals in the second half. The Pirates executed an impressive 13 steals and recorded 10 blocks, with Hines making seven of those. This defensive prowess turned the tide and allowed Seton Hall to comfortably secure their fourth win of the season.

The momentum shifted quickly after halftime as Seton Hall opened with a 7-0 run, highlighted by a layup from Elijah Fisher and a three-pointer from Mike Williams, quickly erasing Monmouth's lead.

Though Monmouth attempted to narrow the gap with a dunk from Dok Muordar, they faced a scoring drought until Jason Rivera-Torres finally hit a three-pointer late in the game, by which time Seton Hall had built a 15-point lead and cruised towards victory.

The initial half was tightly contested, with both teams exhibiting scoring struggles early on. Monmouth's Jason Rivera-Torres netted the first basket, but Seton Hall quickly responded with an 8-0 run, showcasing Staton-McCray’s sharp three-point shooting alongside a dunk by Hines.

Seton Hall, despite facing a 1-for-9 shooting slump, managed to regroup, applying robust defensive strategies and balanced scoring to dominate the second half and wrap up the match decisively.