NEWARK, NJ – A 7-0 run by the Seton Hall University Pirates (5-1), sparked by Jordan Theodore was the difference in a 63-54 loss tonight. The Saint Peter's College Peacocks (1-4) led for most of the first half, but the Pirates took the lead early in the second half and never relinquished it. Chris Prescott led Saint Peter's with 14 points.
Saint Peter's won the tip and scored the first points of the game on a pair of free throws by Prescott. The Peacocks scored seven of the game's first eight points for a 7-1 lead with 16:49 to play in the first half. Seton Hall then tied the game at seven with six straight points.
The score was tied at nine when the Peacocks went on a 13-4 run to take a 22-13 lead with 4:22 to play in the first half. The Pirates responded with an 11-2 run to take a brief 27-26 lead, but Saint Peter's scored the final bucket of the first half and went into the break with a 28-27 lead.
Prescott led the Peacocks with seven points in the first half and added four assists. Fuquan Edwin led all scorers with eight first half points. The Peacocks shot 41.7% from the field and held the Pirates to 33.3%. Saint Peter's was outrebounded 17-15, but forced nine turnovers while committing eight.
Seton Hall took the lead on their first possession of the second half on a three-pointer, but four straight points by Saint Peter's gave them the lead back at 32-30 with 17:44 to play. The Pirates then scored six straight to take their largest lead at 36-32 at the 15:35 mark. Seton Hall went up by five several times, but the Peacocks stayed within striking distance.
Saint Peter's trailed 51-48, but Seton Hall went on a 7-0 that included five points by Theodore to open up their largest lead at 10 points, 58-48 with 3:45 to play. The Peacocks scored the next four points to cut the deficit to six, but the Pirates responded with five straight to stretch their advantage to 11 and put the game out of reach.
Prescott also had three rebounds and six assists. Darius Conley scored nine points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Karee Ferguson added 12 points, while Yvon Raymond scored 10 points. Herb Pope scored 16 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for Seton Hall. Edwin scored 14 points, while Theodore finished with 13 points.
Seton Hall shot 42.1% from the field, while Saint Peter's shot 41.5%. The Pirates outrebounded the Peacocks 35-34 and forced 17 turnovers, while committing 13.
Saint Peter's will return to action on Thursday night when they open MAAC play at the Yanitelli Center against the Siena Saints at 7pm.
