SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO – Seton Hall erased a 15-point halftime deficit to shock #19 USC, 63-61, in the quarterfinal round of the 2008 O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-off Thursday night.  Sophomore Jeremy Hazell (Harlem, N.Y.) hit a game-winning three-pointer with 1:20 remaining in regulation.

Senior John Garcia (Brentwood, N.Y.) had a monstrous game for his second double-double of the season.  The 6-foot-9 center scored 11 points and pulled down a tournament-record 18 rebounds in 39 minutes of action.  Junior Eugene Harvey (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored 13 of his 18 points in the second half.  He also collected five rebounds and five assists.

After a slow start, Seton Hall (3-0) went on a 6-0 run capped by an athletic tip-in by Hazell from a pass by Harvey to give the Pirates an 8-5 lead with 16:45 left in the first half.  USC responded, however, with a 9-1 run of their own to pull ahead, 29-18, with 6:36 before halftime. 

A three-pointer by Jordan Theodore (Englewood, N.J.) pulled the Pirates to within four, 31-27, with 3:51 to go, but the Trojans finished the half with a 12-1 run to give USC their largest lead of the game at the half, 43-28.

Seton Hall began the second half on fire.  A free throw by Garcia followed by consecutive three-pointers by Hazell, Harvey and Gause put Seton Hall on a 10-0 run and pull them to within five, 43-38, with 17:07 remaining in regulation.

The Pirates got a scare when Paul Gause (Pittsgrove, N.J.) picked up his fourth foul with 16:39 remaining, but the 5-foot-11 sparkplug was able to finish the game without fouling out.

Harvey connected on one of two fouls shots with 7:32 left to bring Seton Hall to within one point, 53-52, and a Mike Davis free throw tied the game at 55 with 4:14 remaining.

For the game, both teams shot poorly from the free-throw line.  USC (2-1) was 14-for-25 for 56.0%, while Seton Hall was an uncharacteristic 11-for-23 for 47.8%.

Hazell hit his game-winning three-pointer with the game knotted at 59.

Taj Gibson had a big game for USC.  The junior forward had team-highs of 19 points and 18 rebounds. 

Despite a clear size disadvantage, Seton Hall only lost the battle of the boards by four, 41-37. 

USC shot 62.5% from the floor in the first half as opposed to only 21.4% in the second half.  The Pirates were reasonably consistent throughout the game and finished shooting 41.1% for the game.  The Hall won forced more turnovers, 19-to-15.

Seton Hall will return to action tomorrow night for the semifinal round of the 2008 O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-off.  The Pirates will face #12 Memphis who defeated UT-Chattanooga earlier Thursday.  Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET.