Seton Hall defeats Providence 67-72
Seton Hall Edges Providence in Thrilling Conference Showdown
In a back-and-forth battle, the visiting Seton Hall Pirates outlasted the home-standing Providence Friars 72-67 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday night.
The game was a classic example of a conference showdown, with both teams leaving everything on the court. The difference-maker came down to the wire, as Seton Hall's Tajuan Simpkins led his team to victory with a strong all-around performance.
Simpkins poured in 22 points, including two three-pointers, to lead Seton Hall to its fifth straight win over Providence. His efficient shooting (66.7% FG) and ability to score from both inside and outside the arc made him nearly unstoppable at times.
Stephon Payne chipped in with a double-double of 18 points and 16 rebounds, while Adam Clark dished out seven assists to help Seton Hall's offense click on all cylinders.
Providence, meanwhile, struggled to contain Simpkins and his teammates. The Friars' Stefan Vaaks led the team in scoring with 15 points, but they couldn't overcome a sluggish start that saw them fall behind by as many as four points early in the second half.
The game was marked by several key moments, including a few big rebounds by Payne and Clark that helped Seton Hall maintain its lead. The Pirates also outrebounded Providence 35-29, which proved to be a decisive factor in the outcome.
In the end, Seton Hall's superior rebounding and shooting edge – particularly from beyond the arc (5/15 vs. 5/23 for Providence) – proved too much for the Friars to overcome. The Pirates' win marked their third straight over Providence, and they improved to 6-1 in conference play.
Box Score Stats
* Field Goals: Seton Hall (45.0%), Providence (40.0%)
* 2-Point FG: Seton Hall (50.0%), Providence (56.0%)
* 3-Point FG: Seton Hall (33.0%), Providence (22.0%)
* Free Throws: Seton Hall (63.0%), Providence (80.0%)
* Rebounds: Seton Hall (35), Providence (29)
* Assists: Seton Hall (13), Providence (11)
Advanced Stats
* eFG%: Seton Hall (50.0%), Providence (44.8%)
* FT Rate: Seton Hall (49.1%), Providence (62.5%)
* OREB%: Seton Hall (31.4%), Providence (20.7%)
The win marked a turning point in the season for both teams, with Seton Hall looking to build on its recent success and Providence seeking to bounce back from a tough loss.