Adam “Budd” Clark racked up a season-high 31 points and eight assists, AJ Staton-McCray added 18 points and Seton Hall clawed past Providence 87-80 on Wednesday in Newark, N.J.
Twenty-one of Clark’s points came in the second half as the Pirates (17-8, 7-7 Big East) ended the Friars’ two-game winning streak and their own two-game slide.
Clark made 11 of 16 shots, 10 of 14 coming inside the arc, and two of his five steals came in the closing seconds on last-ditch Providence efforts. Tajuan Simpkins had 13 points as the Pirates shot 50.8% overall, including 58.6% in the second half.
Jaylin Sellers had 23 points, six rebounds and four assists and Stefan Vaaks added 20 points for Providence (11-14, 4-10). Both players made five 3-pointers as the Friars lost despite a 14-for-34 effort from outside the arc.
Providence, which made 5 of 23 3-point attempts in its first meeting with Seton Hall, sank five in a row in the opening minutes Wednesday. Corey Floyd Jr., Duncan Powell, Sellers, Vaaks and Jason Edwards all got in on the action. Soon a quick five-point run made it 22-14 Friars and prompted a Seton Hall timeout.
Staton-McCray and Clark each scored an efficient 10 points in the half to bring Seton Hall within 43-39 at intermission.
Vaaks opened the second half with a 3-pointer, but Clark’s four quick points erased that. Shortly after, Simpkins followed a triple at the 16-minute mark with a pair of foul shots 16 seconds later, tying the game for Seton Hall for the first of three occasions.
Providence’s defense finally broke when Clark — playing with three fouls — hit two tough, mid-range jumpers to forge and then break a 55-55 tie, giving the Pirates their first lead with 12:15 to go. He made it a personal 6-0 run on a steal and score.
Clark assisted buckets by Trey Parker and Godswill Erheriene, and Parker broke out in transition off a defensive rebound and fed Simpkins for a dunk that made it 65-60 with 8:57 to play.
Simpkins then snagged his own steal off a booted ball by Edwards and set up Staton-McCray for a fastbreak bucket and a 73-65 lead.
Clark stayed in the game even after being whistled for his fourth foul. His three-point play at the 2:03 mark gave the Pirates a nine-point lead and essentially iced the game.
–Field Level Media
