NEWARK, N.J. — Seton Hall University’s men’s basketball team ended a two-game losing streak with an 87-80 victory over the Providence Friars on , fueled by a season-high 31-point performance from guard Adam “Budd” Clark.
The win, secured at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, improves the Pirates’ record to 17-8 overall and 7-7 in Big East Conference play. Providence falls to 11-14, with a 4-10 conference record. The Pirates’ resilience was on full display, rebounding from a narrow defeat at Creighton just days prior.
Clark’s dominant showing included eight assists and five steals, a performance described by Providence head coach Kim English as “spectacular,” adding that Clark “looked like Chris Paul.” The junior point guard’s performance is the first of its kind in the Big East since at least 1996-97, achieving 31 points, 8 assists, and 5 steals in a regulation game. According to data from Elias Sports Bureau, the last Big East player to achieve this stat line was Jonny Flynn in a six-overtime game during the 2009 Big East Tournament.
While Clark led the scoring, the Pirates benefited from a balanced offensive effort. AJ Staton-McCray contributed 18 points, capitalizing on opportunities created by Clark’s playmaking. Seton Hall also generated 18 points off turnovers and 24 points from its bench, demonstrating a team-wide contribution to the victory.
The game began as a defensive struggle, with both teams initially finding scoring difficult. Providence quickly established an early lead with a series of three-pointers, pushing ahead 11-4 within the first four minutes. However, Seton Hall responded with a 7-3 run, led by Stephon Payne and Clark, narrowing the gap to 14-11. The lead exchanged hands several times throughout the first half, with scoring bursts from Staton-McCray and Elijah Fisher keeping the Pirates within striking distance. Despite this, Seton Hall trailed 43-39 at halftime.
The second half saw a significant shift in momentum. Clark ignited the Pirates’ offense, scoring the first four points of the half and initiating an 8-2 run that tied the game at 51-51 with remaining. Even as Providence attempted to regain control, Seton Hall maintained its composure. A key contribution came from Godswill Erheriene, who provided valuable minutes off the bench, adding six points and two rebounds during a seven-minute stretch where the Pirates outscored the Friars by six points.
Providence, despite a strong shooting performance in the first half – hitting nine of 17 three-point attempts – struggled in the second half, shooting just 29.4 percent from beyond the arc (5-of-17). They committed 18 turnovers throughout the game, a factor that proved crucial in Seton Hall’s comeback. Jaylin Sellers led the Friars with 23 points, including five three-pointers.
As the game neared its conclusion, Clark sealed the victory with nine consecutive points for Seton Hall, adding a steal in the closing moments. The final score of 87-80 reflects the Pirates’ ability to overcome an early deficit and capitalize on their opponent’s mistakes.
This victory marks the first season sweep of Providence for Seton Hall since the season. The Pirates recorded a total of 11 steals, their 21st game this season with eight or more steals. However, their 26 rebounds represented their lowest total in a win this season.
Up Next
Seton Hall will continue its Big East schedule on , traveling to Indianapolis, Indiana, to face the Butler Bulldogs. The game is scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m. And will be broadcast on FS1.
