Seton Hall defeats Marquette 73-79
Seton Hall Edges Marquette in Thrilling Conference Showdown
In a back-and-forth affair, Seton Hall (AWAY) emerged victorious over Marquette (HOME), 79-73, in a highly anticipated Big East conference matchup at the Fiserv Forum on New Year's Eve.
The contest was marked by a seesaw battle throughout, with both teams trading baskets and showcasing their respective strengths. At halftime, Seton Hall held a slim lead of 38-39, setting the stage for an intense second half.
As the game wore on, Seton Hall continued to outlast Marquette, building a six-point advantage that ultimately proved insurmountable. The Pirates' defense played a key role in stifling the Golden Eagles' offense, holding them to just 30% shooting from beyond the arc.
Despite being outrebounded by four, Seton Hall's superior rebounding and defensive play allowed them to maintain their lead throughout. Stephon Payne led the way with an impressive 22 rebounds, complemented by AJ Staton-McCray's 14 points and six assists for Adam Clark.
For Marquette, Ben Gold led the charge with a strong all-around performance of 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 assist. Royce Parham also notched a double-double with 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals.
The game's largest leads were 10 for Marquette in the first half and 8 for Seton Hall in the second half, highlighting the ebb-and-flow nature of the contest.
In terms of advanced statistics, both teams demonstrated impressive shooting percentages from the field (44.5% and 39.0%, respectively) and free throw line (76.0% and 45.3%, respectively). However, Seton Hall's superior rebounding percentage and lower turnover ratio ultimately proved decisive in their victory.
The win moves Seton Hall up a spot in conference standings, while Marquette falls to fourth place. The result sets the stage for an intriguing stretch run in the Big East, with both teams poised to make a push for the postseason tournament.
GAME STATS:
Marquette (HOME)
* FG: 23/63 (37.0%)
* 2-PT FG: 15/36 (41.7%)
* 3-PT FG: 8/27 (30.0%)
* Free Throws: 19/27 (70.0%)
* Rebounds: 33 (Off: 12, Def: 21)
* Assists: 17
* Turnovers: 8
* Steals: 8
* Blocks: 4
* Total Fouls: 20
* Total Points: 73
Seton Hall (AWAY)
* FG: 25/64 (39.0%)
* 2-PT FG: 18/44 (40.9%)
* 3-PT FG: 7/20 (35.0%)
* Free Throws: 22/29 (76.0%)
* Rebounds: 51 (Off: 20, Def: 31)
* Assists: 14
* Turnovers: 13
* Steals: 5
* Blocks: 8
* Total Fouls: 16
* Total Points: 79