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Seton Hall Surges Past Xavier in Second Half
By
Musketeer Madness,
1/29/2026
A sharp first half gave Xavier reason for optimism, but Seton Hall’s explosive second-half performance proved too much as the Pirates rolled to an 86–68 Big East win Tuesday night at the Prudential Center.
Xavier carried a 41–30 lead into halftime behind an efficient offensive showing and strong early energy. Tre Carroll led the Musketeers with a game-high 22 points, knocking down 8 of 13 shots and 3-of-5 from three-point range, while also adding five rebounds and two steals. Jovan Milicevic chipped in 16 points and three rebounds, and Isaiah Walker provided a spark off the bench with 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.
Despite Xavier’s solid start, Seton Hall flipped the game after the break. The Pirates outscored the Musketeers 56–27 in the second half, using defensive pressure and transition scoring to seize control. Seton Hall forced 19 Xavier turnovers, turning them into 24 points, and dominated the glass with a 44–30 rebounding advantage.
Seton Hall was led by Tajuan Simpkins, who poured in 27 points off the bench, hitting 5-of-8 from three-point range while also adding three assists and two steals. Adam Clark added 24 points, going 8-of-16 from the field and 8-of-9 at the free-throw line, while also contributing seven rebounds. The Pirates’ bench was particularly effective, accounting for 46 points overall.
Xavier struggled to maintain its offensive rhythm in the second half, shooting just 33.3 percent after halftime. Malik Messina-Moore finished with two points on a difficult shooting night, while Filip Borovicanin added eight rebounds to go with two points. All Wright contributed six points and three assists in the loss.
Although the Musketeers were competitive inside, scoring 28 points in the paint and getting solid bench production, Seton Hall’s efficiency and depth proved decisive. The Pirates shot 56.3 percent in the second half and went 21-of-28 from the free-throw line for the game, steadily stretching the margin in the final minutes.
The loss drops Xavier to 11–10 overall and 3–7 in Big East play, while Seton Hall improved to 15–6 on the season, using a dominant second half to secure the conference victory.
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