SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO – Sophomore Jeremy Hazell (Harlem, N.Y.) scored a career-high 32 points, but it was not enough as #12 Memphis defeated Seton Hall, 84-70, in the semifinals of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-off Friday night.
Hazell scored his 32 points on 9-for-21 shooting from the floor and 9-for-12 from the free-throw line. Senior John Garcia (Brentwood, N.Y.) recorded his third consecutive double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Junior Eugene Harvey (Brooklyn, N.Y.) tallied a season-high 21 points to go with five rebounds and five assists.
Seton Hall grabbed an early lead as Harvey scored four of the Pirates first seven points giving them a 7-4 lead. Memphis roared back with a quick 5-0 run of their own capped by a three-pointer by Willie Kemp to give the Tigers a 13-9 lead with 15:50 left in the first.
An 8-1 Memphis run highlighted by a thunderous Tyreke Evans dunk pushed the Tigers out to a 21-12 lead. But Seton Hall once again answered with a 5-0 run and a Hazell three-pointer pulled the Pirates to within four, 21-17, with 11:02 remaining in the first.
Memphis widened the margin with a 9-2 run to make the score 34-22 with 5:39 left on the first half clock. The Tigers entered the locker room at the half with a 44-30 lead.
Turnovers killed the Pirates in the first half as Seton Hall committed 11 compared to Memphis’ three. The Tigers outscored the Pirates 16-to-0 on points off turnovers in the first half alone.
The Pirates, who trailed by 15 points to #19 USC at the half on Thursday night, played relatively even basketball with Memphis for the first five minutes of the second half until the Tigers went on a 8-0 run highlighted by two uncontested dunks to give Memphis a 58-35 lead with 13:09 remaining in regulation.
Seton Hall made a late surge, and ended up tying them 40-to-40 in the second half, but weren’t able to overcome the halftime deficit.
The Pirates out-shot the Tigers, 40.7%-to-39.7%, but they were out-rebounded, 46-to-36 and committed more turnovers, 18-to-11.
Seton Hall will return to action on Sunday, November 23 for the third and final game of the 2008 O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-off. The Pirates will face Virginia Tech, who has also gone 1-1 so far in Puerto Rico. The Hokies defeated Fairfield on Thursday, but lost to Xavier on Friday. The winner between Seton Hall and Virginia Tech will earn third place for the tournament. Game time is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET.
Courtesy: Seton Hall Athletic Communications
