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JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The Seton Hall men’s basketball team overcame a poor shooting performance to win their first road game of the year, a 60-46 victory at Saint Peter’s on Saturday. 

Three players finished in double-figures in scoring for the Pirates (8-1), who were once again led by sophomore Jeremy Hazell (Harlem, N.Y.) with a game-high 14 points.  Junior Eugene Harvey (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and senior Paul Gause (Pittsgrove, N.J.) both scored 12 points in the victory.

Sophomore Brandon Walters (Brooklyn, N.Y.) had one of the strongest games of his career with five points, five rebounds and three blocks in 20 minutes of action.

In a scrappy, poor-shooting first half for both teams, it was a see-saw battle throughout the first 10 minutes, before Saint Peter’s grabbed a three-point lead, 14-11.  Seton Hall responded with an 8-0 run, highlighted by four straight points from Gause to give the Pirates the lead, 19-14, with 6:07 remaining in the half.

The Peacocks (3-6) fired back with two straight baskets to pull within one with 5:05 to go, but poor free-throw shooting, ensured that Seton Hall would keep the lead.

A lay-up by Harvey and three free-throws by Hazell with three seconds remaining in the half gave the Pirates their largest lead of the game, up 30-22 at the break.  The Pirates had to play without senior John Garcia for long stretches in the first half as he picked up his second foul with 10:44 remaining.  Despite the eight-point half-time lead, Seton Hall shot only 37.5% from the floor and was 1-for-11 from three-point range.  No players scored in double-figures for either team and the teams were a combined 1-for-15 from behind the three-point arc with 15 turnovers and 21 fouls.

Seton Hall opened the second half shooting better.  The Pirates used a 7-1 run to extend their lead to a comfortable 39-27 with 14:00 remaining in regulation.  Hazell, the BIG EAST’s leading scorer, picked up his fourth foul with 13:46 remaining in regulation and was forced to the bench.

Saint Peter’s reeled off six straight points, but then Harvey completed a three-point play to put the Pirates back up nine, 44-35, with 10:21 left to play.

Seton Hall iced the game with a 9-2 run to give the Pirates a 53-39 lead with 3:41 left in the game.

The Pirates shot only 36.4% from the floor for the game and finished a paltry 1-for-17 from three-point range.  Seton Hall was out-rebounded, 41-to-33, but forced more turnovers, 19-to-11.

Saint Peter’s was without leading scorer Wesley Jenkins for the second straight game.  Jenkins who leads the team with 17.6 points per game was attending to personal matters.

The victory was Seton Hall’s 13^th straight against Saint Peter’s and first at the Yanitelli Center since Jan. 5, 1990.

The Pirates return to action one week from today, December 20, 2008, when they host IUPUI at Prudential Center.  Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.  Prior to the game, the Seton Hall women’s basketball team will host North Carolina State.  The women’s game begins at 4:00 p.m.