Seton Hall set a season high with 11 3-pointers while downing Central Connecticut State 77-61 on Wednesday in South Orange, N.J.
Adam “Budd” Clark had 10 points and 12 assists as Seton Hall (8-1) surpassed its win total from last season. The Pirates finished the game 11 of 20 from 3-point range.
Mike Williams and AJ Staton-McCray each had 12 points to pace the Seton Hall attack, while Tajuan Simpkins contributed 10 points.
Central Connecticut State (5-3) was led by Darin Smith Jr., who scored 20 points and sank four treys. Max Frazier added 13 points for the Blue Devils.
The Pirates’ bench outscored the Blue Devils’ reserves 35-4. Seton Hall forced 15 turnovers that led to 29 points.
Seton Hall scored the game’s first eight points with Stephon Payne accounting for a pair of baskets, including a dunk off a lob.
The Blue Devils responded with the next six points and subsequently took their only lead at 11-10 when James Jones completed a three-point play. Jacob Dar gave the Pirates the lead back with a 3-pointer from the corner — his first made trey of the season — that kickstarted an 8-0 Pirates run.
Central Connecticut State switched to a 3-2 zone and had some early success slowing down the Pirates. It was 26-22 Seton Hall after Smith produced a three-point play with just over five minutes to go in the half.
The Pirates eventually figured out the zone. Staton-McCray hit a soft floater inside, and Josh Rivera followed with a layup. Staton-McCray later sank a 3-pointer from the corner, and the Pirates owned a 37-27 lead at the break.
Seton Hall pushed the lead up to 66-46 after a trey by Simpkins with six minutes left. Central Connecticut State scored the next nine points, causing Pirates coach Shaheen Holloway to call a timeout with 3:47 left. Seton Hall then got a 3-pointer by Rivera from the wing to stem any possible comeback.
