Seton Hall can exact some revenge Thursday night against in-state rival Monmouth in Newark, N.J.
Monmouth defeated the Pirates 63-51 last Nov. 30, the first win for the Hawks in 16 games between the schools.
That loss was a low point for the Pirates, but this season has been nothing but positive. Seton Hall (3-0) is undefeated after an 82-59 win over Fairfield Monday night and holding opponents to 56.7 points per game.
Freshman center Najai Hines had his first collegiate double-double against the Stags with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and senior A.J. Staton-McCray had a season-high 13.
Seton Hall coach Shaheen Holloway praised Staton-McCray’s performance as his team tries to blend in the 10 newcomers on the roster.
“I got on him yesterday and the day before that, because we need him,” Holloway told the Asbury Park Press Monday night.
“He’s an older guy, an established guy. I expect a lot from him. I thought the first two games he let not making shots affect everything. (Monday) he did a better job of — even when his shot wasn’t going — he did other things for us.”
The Pirates have started the season with returning big man Godswill Erheriene out with a shoulder injury, and Holloway said it might take some time before he returns. Guard Jahseem Felton also was hurt in an awkward fall against Fairfield, forcing sophomore Trey Parker to log more minutes.
“He’s getting his rhythm and timing back,” Holloway said about Parker. “He was out for almost two weeks (with a preseason injury). I wanted him to get back in rhythm, plus we have a game Thursday and we played (this past) Friday, so I’ve got to be careful with guys’ minutes.”
The Hawks are playing without starting point guard Kavion McClain, who is under investigation by the NCAA for possible rules infractions. Monmouth coach King Rice told the Asbury Park Press that he has no idea where the NCAA investigation stands on the Texas Southern transfer.
Monmouth is 1-1 after a 96-68 win over Division II Caldwell and a 73-60 loss to La Salle. Monmouth had 16 turnovers in the loss to the Explorers and was just 5-for-21 from beyond the arc.
Guard Jason Rivera-Torres, a transfer from San Francisco, leads the Hawks with an average of 16.5 points through two games.
Rice said he is impressed that Seton Hall and Holloway wanted to continue playing after the Hawks’ victory.
“He pays us to come up there, and it helps our program and we need it,” Rice said. “He invited us back and gave us a bigger check. That’s the man that he is.”
