On Tuesday, January 13, the Seton Hall Pirates men’s basketball team hosted the UConn Huskies at Prudential Center in a gritty Big East matchup that featured defensive pressure, cold shooting, and a late surge that had the crowd on its feet.
The opening 10 minutes were a struggle for both sides, with missed shots and rebounding issues leading to a slow start offensively. For most of the first half, both defenses kept the game in check, preventing either team from finding a rhythm.
With just over eight minutes remaining in the half, UConn pieced together a solid offensive stretch to take the lead, capped by a layup from Tarris Reed. Seton Hall answered quickly to tie the game at 17–17, but the Huskies responded with authority. A three-pointer from Braylon Mullins followed by a layup from Malachi Smith sparked a run that pushed UConn ahead 29–20 with three minutes left in the half.
The Huskies stayed hot down the stretch, adding to their lead before the break. An aggressive layup by Silas Demary served as the exclamation point, sending UConn into halftime with a 35–22 advantage.
Seton Hall struggled in the first half, committing nine turnovers and scoring just ten points in the paint. Mike Williams led the Pirates with seven points at the break. UConn’s defensive improvement was evident, as they consistently disrupted Seton Hall’s offensive sets.
The Pirates opened the second half chipping away at their double-digit deficit. A handful of calls went Seton Hall’s way, helping fuel their comeback attempt, while the Prudential Center crowd brought the energy and helped the Pirates gain some needed momentum.
With seven minutes remaining, Seton Hall finally found its defensive identity and kicked into a higher gear. However, shooting woes remained a factor throughout the night. The Pirates finished just 1-of-16 from three-point range, while UConn wasn’t much better, shooting 3-of-17 from beyond the arc.
Despite the struggles, Seton Hall made it interesting late. With under two minutes remaining, the Pirates pulled within two points, setting up a classic Big East finish. A three-pointer by Williams with 48 seconds left brought Seton Hall within striking distance after clawing back from an 18-point deficit, but the comeback fell short as UConn closed out the win.
The victory marked UConn’s first road win over Seton Hall since March of 2021.
Up Next
Both teams return to action this Saturday, January 17:
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Seton Hall hosts Butler
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UConn travels to Georgetown
