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MILWAUKEE, WISC. – After trailing by as many as 20 points in the second half, Seton Hall made a furious comeback to pull to within five points with 8:57 remaining in regulation, but could get no closer and went on to fall to #15 Marquette, 89-76, Wednesday.
Seton Hall (11-8, 3-4) had four players score in double-figures led by junior Jamar Nutter (Bloomfield, N.J.) who scored 18 points and pulled down seven rebounds in coming off the bench for the second time this season. Red-shirt freshman John Garcia (Bayshore, N.Y.) made his first career start and scored a career-high 10 points in 17 minutes as he continues to progress in his comeback.
Junior Brian Laing (Bronx, N.Y.) narrowly missed his fifth double-double of the season with 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Freshman Eugene Harvey (Brooklyn, N.Y.) finished with 14 points after a scoreless first half.
The Pirates led early and took a 10-9 lead into the first media time out, but the Golden Eagles went on a 10-0 run following the break and never looked back. By half-time the Marquette lead had stretched to 13 points at 43-30.
The early moments of the second half proved to be even more futile for the Pirates as Marquette gradually padded their lead until it reached a climax of 20 points at 63-43 with 14:18 remaining in regulation. The Pirates, however, weren’t ready to throw in the towel. Digging deep, Seton Hall went on a 15-1 run to pull to within six points at 64-58 with 10:15 left. The Pirates would get one point closer at 68-63 with 8:57 remaining, but that was as close as they would get.
After trading a few baskets, two free throws by Harvey brought the Pirates back to within seven points at 74-67 with 5:51 left, but the Golden Eagles pulled away for good with an 11-1 run that extended the lead to an insurmountable 17 points at 85-68 with only 2:54 remaining.
The Golden Eagles (18-4, 5-2) received a remarkable effort by Jerel McNeal who finished with 22 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds and four steals. Wesley Matthews tied McNeal for the game-high with 22 points as well.
The Pirates hit the boards well Wednesday, following a disappointing effort vs. Georgetown. Seton Hall out-rebounded Marquette 35-to-34.
Seton Hall will remain on the road and travel to Piscataway, N.J. to take on in-state rival Rutgers on Saturday, January 27. The Pirates defeated the Scarlet Knights in their first meeting this year, 77-72, at Continental Airlines Arena. Game time is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Courtesy: Seton Hall Athletic Communications
