Saturday, February 28
Storrs, Conn.
12:00 p.m.
Seton Hall University
19-10,9-9Big East
67
at
71
UConn
27-3,17-2Big East
1
2
F
Seton Hall
33
34
67
UConn
32
39
71
Staton-McCray, Hines Show Out as Pirates Hang Tough at No. 6 UConn, 71-67
2/28/2026 3:21:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Storrs, Conn. – Three Pirates finished in double figures, led by AJ Staton-McCray's 20 points, as the Pirates battled to the bitter end in a 71-67 defeat at No. 6 UConn on Saturday afternoon inside Gampel Pavilion.
Najai Hines also played a large role in Seton Hall's success on the day, securing his fourth double-double of the year with 11 points and 11 boards. The Pirates, who took a one-point lead into halftime, led by as many as eight points in the second half.
How It Happened
The Pirates were right in the thick of things from the jump, overcoming an early 7-2 burst for the Huskies to tie the score just under five minutes into action. The Pirates' first lead of the day would come at the 11:17 mark, when Elijah Fisher converted on a layup to give the visitors a 12-11 edge. The remainder of the half would be as back-and-forth as it gets, with the lead changing hands 10 times over the final nine minutes of the stanza and neither team leading by more than a possession. The Huskies were able to level the score at 14-14 at the 8:53 mark on a Jayden Ross three, but the Pirates would respond right back with a trey of their own from Tajuan Simpkins.
Late in the first, a deep Mike Williams three-pointer swished through which gave Seton Hall the edge, 31-29, with 1:26 left until the break. UConn would respond with an Alex Karaban triple to go back in front, but The Hall's final possession featured the toughness and grit that has become synonymous with this team. Off a missed jumper from Josh Rivera, Hines was able to snatch the offensive rebound with six seconds remaining. The freshman got downhill towards the rim and put home the layup, giving Seton Hall a one-point edge at halftime, 33-32.
In the second, the Pirates came out of the locker room with some punch. Staton-McCray nailed a three on the first possession of the half off a good find from Budd Clark. The point guard would show off his passing prowess on the next possession as well, drawing a double-team on a dribble drive and dishing to a wide open Hines for a two-handed slam.
The Huskies would punch back, trimming the deficit down to one at the 13:15 mark, 45-44. From there, Seton Hall would see its lead swell to eight thanks to three-pointers from Williams and Staton-McCray as part of a 9-2 run. The Pirates would go into the timeout with their largest lead of the day, 54-46, with 9:33 remaining.
UConn again showed its resilience, rallying back to take the lead, 58-56, with 5:57 remaining. The teams would continue to trade blows down the stretch, including a clutch corner three from Elijah Fisher with 3:24 left which gave The Hall a two-point edge. Later on with the game tied in the final minute, free throws from Solo Ball and Karaban gave the Huskies the lead for good.
News & Notes
The Pirates hit the road for the final time in the regular season on Tuesday night when they travel to Cincinnati to take on Xavier at 7 p.m. on FS1.
Najai Hines also played a large role in Seton Hall's success on the day, securing his fourth double-double of the year with 11 points and 11 boards. The Pirates, who took a one-point lead into halftime, led by as many as eight points in the second half.
How It Happened
The Pirates were right in the thick of things from the jump, overcoming an early 7-2 burst for the Huskies to tie the score just under five minutes into action. The Pirates' first lead of the day would come at the 11:17 mark, when Elijah Fisher converted on a layup to give the visitors a 12-11 edge. The remainder of the half would be as back-and-forth as it gets, with the lead changing hands 10 times over the final nine minutes of the stanza and neither team leading by more than a possession. The Huskies were able to level the score at 14-14 at the 8:53 mark on a Jayden Ross three, but the Pirates would respond right back with a trey of their own from Tajuan Simpkins.
Twiiiiiiiin 🙌🙌🙌 pic.twitter.com/Vl8JQpimx5
— Seton Hall Men's Basketball (@SetonHallMBB) February 28, 2026
Late in the first, a deep Mike Williams three-pointer swished through which gave Seton Hall the edge, 31-29, with 1:26 left until the break. UConn would respond with an Alex Karaban triple to go back in front, but The Hall's final possession featured the toughness and grit that has become synonymous with this team. Off a missed jumper from Josh Rivera, Hines was able to snatch the offensive rebound with six seconds remaining. The freshman got downhill towards the rim and put home the layup, giving Seton Hall a one-point edge at halftime, 33-32.
In the second, the Pirates came out of the locker room with some punch. Staton-McCray nailed a three on the first possession of the half off a good find from Budd Clark. The point guard would show off his passing prowess on the next possession as well, drawing a double-team on a dribble drive and dishing to a wide open Hines for a two-handed slam.
Twiiiiiiiin 🙌🙌🙌 pic.twitter.com/Vl8JQpimx5
— Seton Hall Men's Basketball (@SetonHallMBB) February 28, 2026
The Huskies would punch back, trimming the deficit down to one at the 13:15 mark, 45-44. From there, Seton Hall would see its lead swell to eight thanks to three-pointers from Williams and Staton-McCray as part of a 9-2 run. The Pirates would go into the timeout with their largest lead of the day, 54-46, with 9:33 remaining.
THE HALL IS HOOPIN' FOLKS pic.twitter.com/9h0ucjdh7o
— Seton Hall Men's Basketball (@SetonHallMBB) February 28, 2026
UConn again showed its resilience, rallying back to take the lead, 58-56, with 5:57 remaining. The teams would continue to trade blows down the stretch, including a clutch corner three from Elijah Fisher with 3:24 left which gave The Hall a two-point edge. Later on with the game tied in the final minute, free throws from Solo Ball and Karaban gave the Huskies the lead for good.
News & Notes
- The Pirates knocked down nine 3-pointers on the day, their most made threes in a game since making 11 against Central Connecticut on Dec. 3, 2025.
- The .500 shooting percentage from three-point land is also the team's best since the CCSU game (minimum 10 attempts).
- Seton Hall has shot 47 percent from the floor in five of its last six outings.
- Hines' 11 points and 11 rebounds gives him his fourth double-double of the year and second straight.
- Williams knocked down three 3-pointers on the afternoon, his first game reaching that mark since Nov. 24 against NC State in the Maui Invitational.
- This game marked just the fifth time all season in which UConn had trailed at halftime.
- The Pirates registered 10 steals tonight, their 14th game of the season with double digit steals.
The Pirates hit the road for the final time in the regular season on Tuesday night when they travel to Cincinnati to take on Xavier at 7 p.m. on FS1.
Team Stats
SHU
UConn
FG%
.472
.457
3FG%
.500
.429
FT%
.889
.690
RB
27
30
TO
15
15
STL
10
9
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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