Holding off a late run by the Providence Friars the Seton Hall men's basketball team improves to 14-2 and 3-1 in the Big East with the 66-57 win. The start is the Hall's best since their 15-2 start to the 1992-93 season.
The Pirates held a 54-48 lead with 5:28 remaining when Providence went on a 5-0 run capped off on three free throws from sophomore Bryce Cotton which cut the Hall's lead to 54-53.
With the one point lead the Pirates went on a 9-0 run starting on a pull up jumper from senior Jordan Theodore with 3:23 left. The run would also be capped by two free throws by Theodore in a one plus one situation to put the Pirates lead at 10.
Providence would attempt to get back in the game in the final minute but two free throws from Pope finished the game.
Sophomore Fuquan Edwin lead all scorers with 24 points making his first five three point attempts of the game and finishing 5-8 from beyond the arc and 9-18 from the floor.
Catalyst of the game clinching run, Theodore finished the game with 14 points and nine assists while only turning the ball over two times. Pope recorded his ninth double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
With 7:40 left in the half and the Pirates holding a 21-19 lead, the Pirates got a scare with Pope getting a left eye injury. Providence's sophomore Garard Coleman drove hard to the basket towards with Pope holding position to draw the charge when the players collided with Coleman fist hitting Pope in the eye.
The Hall held a three point lead at the half when freshman Aaron Cosby hit two three on the Pirates first two possessions of the second half.
The Pirates next return to action against the DePaul Blue Demons on Tuesday Jan. 10 at 7:00 p.m. The Hall is also closing in on their first top 25 national ranking since the week of Jan. 30, 2001.
Stephen Valenti can be reached at stephen.Valenti@student.shu.eduu
