The men’s basketball team hosted the Xavier Musketeers, as it hoped to avenge the 74-54 loss that Seton Hall incurred last time the two teams matched up at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Seton Hall started the game scorching, as they connected on 4 of their first six shots. Senior forward Dylan Addae-Wusu helped open the game, finding senior guard Al-Amir Dawes open behind-the-arc on consecutive plays en route to an early 10-2 advantage for the Pirates.
“He spaces the floor very well for us,” senior guard Kadary Richmond added about Dawes post-game. “It helps us all out.”
Xavier was held scoreless for over six minutes in the first half thanks to the Pirates stifling defensive efforts. Addae-Wusu showed his versatility, blocking a mid-range jumper and finding Dre Davis on the other end for a triple that gave the Hall a 31-11 advantage with 7:57 remaining in the first half.
The Pirates held a commanding 47-25 lead headed into the break. As a team, they shot 55% from the field and 45% from behind-the-arc compared to 33% and 14%, respectively, for Xavier. Seton Hall committed just four turnovers in the first half and converted 12 points off 10 Musketeer turnovers.
Senior forward Dre Davis led all scorers with 9 in the first half. Graduate center Jaden Bediako, freshman guard Isaiah Coleman, and Dawes each added eight points. Richmond had an illustrious first 20 minutes of play, dishing nine assists to go with five points and four rebounds.
“Those games where [Isaiah] started, that was big for him,” Richmond said on Coleman. “Everything you see is the work he’s put in.”
For the Musketeers, freshman forward Sasa Ciani and junior guard Dayvion McKnight led with six points apiece.
During the second half, Xavier was able to cut the lead to as low as 14, but was not able to make a significant dent in the Hall’s advantage. The Pirates return to the win column and put the Musketeers away with ease, 88-70.
“We just have to play,” Pirates' head coach Shaheen Holloway noted. “Can’t worry about the little things and outside stuff.”
Kadary Richmond led the team with a 20-point, 13-assist double-double along with eight rebounds. Dawes trailed shortly behind with 18 points. Coleman contributed 14 points off the bench. Bediako added 12 points and seven boards.
Xavier junior guard Quincy Olivari scored 21 of his 25 total points in the second half, but it was not enough.
Seton Hall improves to 9-5 in conference play and 15-9 overall. They will head on the road to take on St. John’s on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 5:00 pm.
Thomas Donnelly is the head editor of The Setonian’s sports section. He can be reached at thomas.donnelly@student.shu.edu.
