BOX SCORE (.html)
BOX SCORE (.pdf)
NEWARK, N.J. - Senior Jordan Theodore (Englewood, N.J.) scored a career-high 29 points as the Seton Hall men's basketball team dictated play from start and defeated #9 Georgetown, 73-55, on Tuesday at the Prudential Center.
Theodore tallied his 29 points on an efficient 8-for-11 shooting, including a perfect 5-for-5 from downtown and 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. The veteran point guard also added five assists as he continues to climb the school's single-season assists list, tying Pirates' legend and current associate head coach Shaheen Holloway for fourth most all-time.
Seton Hall (19-9, 8-8) has now won four of its last five games. Georgetown (20-6, 10-5) suffered its worst loss of the season. The 18-point victory is the largest for the Pirates in their series with the Hoyas since a 75-48 win on February 28, 2004.
Seton Hall's seniors, Theodore and Herb Pope (Aliquippa, Pa.), took control early. The two led a methodical and efficient offensive attack and scored 10 of the team's first 12 points on 5-for-9 shooting.
Sophomore Fuquan Edwin (Paterson, N.J) was the first Pirate other than Pope or Theodore to attempt a field goal, nailing a three-pointer to extend the SHU lead to 15-11 with 10:24 remaining before the half.
After the Hoyas rebounded to take a 16-15 edge, freshman Brandon Mobley (Savannah, Ga.) finished twice at the rim as part of a string of seven unanswered points for The Hall, giving the Pirates a 22-16 advantage.
The Pirates weathered the ensuing Georgetown rally, and a three-pointer by Theodore at the 1:23 mark extended the SHU edge to seven, and the Pirates carried a 35-28 lead into halftime.
The Pirates got a boost in the first period from excellent ball movement, assisting on 11 of 13 made field goals. Overall, SHU shot 59.1 percent (13-for-22) for the half.
Seton Hall came out firing in the second stanza, hitting their first four shots including two long jumpers from freshman Aaron Cosby (Louisville, Ky.) to open up a 45-33 margin.
The ninth-ranked visitors would never recover, failing to cut the deficit to single-digits for the remainder of the game.
A steal and fast-break finish by Edwin gave the Pirates their first 20-point cushion of the game at 67-47 with 3:19 remaining and the Pirates cruised to victory the rest of the way.
For the game, Seton Hall shot 61.0 percent (25-for-41) from the field and 61.5 percent (8-for-13), both season-highs allowed by a vaunted Georgetown defense that was limiting opponents to 38.3 percent shooting entering the night, best in the BIG EAST.
Edwin, who currently stands as the BIG EAST steals leader, again filled the stat sheet contributing 10 points, five assists and four steals. Mobley added 10 points on 5-for-6 from the field off the bench.
Sophomore Patrik Auda (Brno, Czech Republic) answered the bell in his first start since January 25 vs. Louisville, finishing a well-rounded game with seven points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.
No Hoya managed to score in double-digits as Georgetown was led by nine points from reserve Greg Whittington. Seton Hall held the GU starters to a combined 24 points.
The victory is the second for Seton Hall over a top-10 opponent this season. On Jan. 3, the Pirates defeated #8 Connecticut. It's the first time since the 2002-03 season that the Pirates have registered victories over two top-10 teams.
The Pirates are back in action at the Prudential Center on Saturday, February 25 when they take on in-state rival Rutgers. Seniors Pete Dill, Herb Pope, Jordan Theodore and senior manager Jeff Sfraga will all be honored before the game. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
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