Powell, Delgado Power Pirates Past Monmouth, 75-65

Sunday, November 12

Newark, N.J.

1:30 p.m.

Seton Hall University

2-0

Monmouth

1-1

Monmouth

Seton Hall

11/12/2017 3:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score HOME BOX (PDF)

NEWARK, N.J. – Sophomore Myles Powell (Trenton, N.J.) scored a game-high 18 points on the strength of four made three-pointers and senior Angel Delgado (Bajos De Haina, Dominican Republic) notched a double-double as the No. 23 Seton Hall men's basketball team defeated Monmouth, 75-65, on Sunday in its second game of the NIT Season Tip-Off.

Powell led four Pirates who reached double-figures in scoring with 18 points on 7-for-13 shooting from the floor. He also had four rebounds and three assists. Delgado's double-double is the 52nd of his historic career, which leads all active players in the NCAA. The senior finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Seton Hall's defensive pressure was key to it building a large lead. The Pirates forced 21 turnovers in the game, including 13 in the first half.

Turning Point:
With Seton Hall trailing 11-8, Khadeen Carrington (Brooklyn, N.Y.) had steals on back-to-back Monmouth possessions, and converted them into breakaway baskets both times to give the Pirates their first lead, 12-11, with 14:12 remaining in the first half. Although Monmouth's three-point shooting kept them close early, Seton Hall's long-distance shooting late in the first half provided the difference. Leading 26-25, The Hall scored 11 unanswered points, highlighted by three's from Powell on back-to-back possessions, and capped by a three-pointer from Desi Rodriguez (Bronx, N.Y.) to give it a 37-25 advantage with 4:45 left to play in the first half.

Seton Hall (2-0) kept up the pressure in the waning moments of the first half as good interior passing led to a dunk by Michael Nzei (Makurdi, Nigeria) with 1:35 to go. After a Monmouth missed jumper, Eron Gordon (Indianapolis, Ind.) grabbed the long rebound and found Rodriguez streaking up the floor. Rodriguez then dumped the ball inside to Delgado for a thunderous dunk to send the Pirates into the break with a 48-32 lead.

The Pirates kept up the pressure early in the second half, and twice ballooned their lead to 20 points. A three-point play by Rodriguez with 13:16 remaining in the game put The Hall up 60-40.

Inside the Numbers:

Seton Hall shot 42.9% (30-for-70) from the floor, while Monmouth connected on 41.9% (18-for-43) of its shots. Both teams connected on seven three-pointer attempts, but the Hawks were more efficient, shooting 7-for-16 (43.8%), while the Pirates were 7-for-25 (28.0%). Monmouth missed only four shots from the free-throw line, going 22-for-26 (84.6%), while The Hall was 8-for-16 (50.0%).
Carrington finished with 14 points to go with team-highs of four assists and four steals.
Nzei finished had 10 points to go with six rebounds.
The Pirates dominated the paint, out-scoring Monmouth, 40-to-16, from close range. They were also able to take advantage of 19 offensive rebounds, scoring 20 second-chance points, compared to just four for the Hawks.
Delgado, who had 27 double-doubles in 33 games last season, now has two in his first two games in 2017-18. It's the 52nd of his career, which leads the NCAA among active players.
Seton Hall forced 21 turnovers, compared to 13 for Monmouth. The Pirates generated 22 points off those turnovers. The swarming Pirate defense also limited the Hawks to just six assists.
The 48 points Seton Hall scored in the first half was the most a Pirates team has scored in a first half since scoring 53 against LIU-Brooklyn in December 2013.

News & Notes:

Seton Hall improves to a perfect 13-0 all-time against Monmouth. Today marked 10 years plus one day that Seton Hall played its first-ever game at Prudential Center, which was also against Monmouth (Nov. 11, 2007).
Delgado has reached double-figures in scoring in 16 of his last 17 games dating back to last season.
The Pirates are now 5-1 when Nzei reaches double-figures in scoring.
It's the seventh straight year that Seton Hall has won its first two games of a new season.
Seton Hall was a perfect 16-0 last season when out-shooting its opponent. Through two games in 2017-18, they're 2-0 and have out-shot both Fairleigh Dickinson and Monmouth.
The Pirates have now won 18 straight non-conference games at the Prudential Center and are 57-8 all-time in non-BIG EAST contests at The Rock.
Seton Hall has now won eight straight games against teams from the State of New Jersey.
The No. 23 Pirates improve to 144-48 all-time when ranked nationally.

Up Next:
Seton Hall will return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 15 when it hosts Big Ten member Indiana at the Prudential Center as part of the 2017 Gavitt Tipoff Games. Game time is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. FS1 and FOX Sports GO will carry the game with Gus Johnson and Bill Raftery on the call. Gary Cohen and Dave Popkin will provide the radio broadcast on AM970 The Answer, simulcast on the Pirate Sports Network, available on SHUPirates.com and the SHU Pirates Mobile App. Tickets for the contest can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or by calling the Seton Hall Athletics ticket office at (973) 275-4255 during normal business hours.