NEWARK, NJ — In a game that went down to the wire on Tuesday night, No. 25 Seton Hall couldn’t complete their comeback, falling 69-64 to No. 3 UConn before a Prudential Center crowd of 9,699.
The Huskies seized momentum early, building a 13 point halftime advantage and stretching the lead to 18 midway through the second half. The Pirates answered with a late defensive surge and improved ball movement, mounting a comeback that carried into the closing minutes.
UConn controlled the paint early and closed the opening frame on a 16-2 run, building a 35-22 halftime lead after repeatedly converting inside and forcing the Pirates into tough looks.
The Huskies then pushed the margin to as many as 18 in the second half, but the Pirates responded with defensive pressure and improved ball movement, forcing turnovers and a ramp up on the pace. Seton Hall’s full court pressure disrupted UConn’s rhythm which ignited the home crowd as the Pirates chipped away on each possession.
Seton Hall head coach Shaheen Holloway didn’t mince words when describing his team’s slow start:
“We got treated like little boys in the first half. They just did whatever they wanted to do. They just threw us around. I had to light a fire under these guys’ butts. The second half we came out, it was a different team.”
No. 25 Seton Hall fell to No. 3 UConn in a nail-biter Tuesday night at the Prudential Center, marking their third loss of the season and second in Big East Conference play – Image Credit: Seton Hall Men’s Basketball
UConn’s offense was paced by Tarris Reed Jr., who finished with 21 points and nine rebounds, while Alex Karaban added 13 to the board and Braylon Mullins contributed 11. Reed also recorded three blocks, anchoring the Huskies defensively in the paint.
“Definitely a lot of anger walking into this arena, all the past memories,” the redshirt senior Karaban said as he and UConn were winless in their last four games at the Prudential Center dating back to 2021 prior to Tuesday’s win. “I definitely didn’t want to lose here again.”
Seton Hall countered with a balanced scoring effort, led by Mike Williams’ 16 points, including the Pirates’ lone three-pointer made on the night within 48 seconds remaining that cut the deficit to one. Budd Clark added 12 points before fouling out, while Najai Hines chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds.
Budd Clark, recording 12 points in Tuesday’s loss, said after the game, “We’re not here for moral victories. We thought we could beat anybody.” – Image Credit: Seton Hall Men’s Basketball
Puerto Rican Josh Rivera also tacked on four points for the Pirates with a rebound and one steal.
As Williams knocked down a corner three to cut the deficit to one, 65-64, bringing the arena to its feet, Silas Demary Jr. helped seal the win for the Huskies, banking clutch shots in the final minute to keep Seton Hall at bay.
“We’re not here for moral victories,” Clark said. “We thought we could beat anybody.”
Both teams struggled from beyond the arc, with UConn shooting 3-of-17 from the three-point range and Seton Hall finishing 1-of-16. The Pirates forced 17 turnovers and turned them into 20 points, using defensive pressure to stay within striking distance down the stretch.
UConn head coach Dan Hurley said the physicality and intensity of facing his alma mater, a Holloway led unit, matched expectations:
“The game was exactly what we thought it would be. I have so much respect for how hard Shaheen Holloway’s team plays. They may be the hardest-playing team in the country. That’s a team that’s gonna compete at the top of the league. I wouldn’t want to see Seton Hall’s name drawn next to mine in the NCAA Tournament this year, I’ll tell you that.”
The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Seton Hall, but with that, the Pirates continue to show resilience against top-tier competition. Like facing a UConn team ranked among the nation’s best defenses, a top tier program with winning experience, and still able to go toe to toe with them in crunch time.
On the other side, the Huskies extended their winning streak to 13 games, as the only loss on the 2025-2026 campaign came in Connecticut vs. No. 1 Arizona.
What’s Next?
No. 3 UConn (17-1 overall, 7-0 in BE play) at Georgetown (9-8 overall, 1-5 in BE play) on Saturday, January 17th at 12:00PM ET on FOX
No. 25 Seton Hall (14-3 overall, 4-2 in BE play) vs. Butler (10-6 overall, 1-4 in BE play) on Saturday, January 17th at 12:00PM ET on TNT
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