It’s never easy to win on the road but Jabri Abdur-Rahim and the Friars won in Newark Tuesday night
By KEVIN McNAMARA
There were no style points coming out of the Prudential Center in Newark Tuesday night, only smiles for the Providence Friars.
PC started slowly, grabbed a 15-point lead with 15 minutes left but gave it all away in a blizzard of turnovers (19 for game). But Kim English’s crew didn’t fade away. Instead two clutch hoops from South Orange, N.J. native Jabri Abdur-Rahim and a vital runner by Rich Barron with 31 seconds left steadied the ship.
That ship wasn’t quite on the docks, however, as the free throw game kept the door open for the Pirates. A ridiculous call by the officiating crew with three seconds left put the Hall on the foul line for three shots trailing 69-66 but Isaiah Coleman missed the first and the Friars could finally exhale for a 69-67 victory.
Five Friars reached double figures with Jayden Pierre leading the way with 16 points, Abdur-Rahim scoring 13, Bensley Joseph hitting for 12 and Corey Floyd and Oswin Erhunmwunse adding 11 apiece.
That Seton Hall, which has now lost 11 of 12 games, was able to wipe out a 15-point deficit and lead with 5:15 to play was somewhat stunning. The Pirates are offensively challenged (37%FG, 4-of-22 from 3-point line) but registered 12 steals as the Friars lost the ball 19 times. Guards Pierre and Joseph lost the ball four times apiece.
“Bensley and Jayden had the ball in their hands a good bit,” English said, “but the sureness was disappointing. It’s what Seton Hall does. They are top three in the Big East in turnover percentage and in offensive rebounding. That was the game. Disappointing. Some things we have to clean up, and we will. You better do it before you play St. John’s whose one of the best in the country.”
The Friars won for the second straight time for the second time this season. They are now 11-10 overall and 5-5 in the Big East with a trip to Madison Square Garden and a date with the Red Storm this Saturday.
PC started very slowly in this game, making just two of its first 11 shots. The offense finally got going when Joseph and Pierre hit 3-pointers but a 25-17 lead melted to just 30-26 at halftime as that turnover bug (9 in first half) began to fester.
An early second half push that included threes from Joseph and Pierre and a nice push pass by Pierre to a dunking Oswin helped the Friars to a 44-29 lead with 15:21 left. But even at that point some costly turnovers were adding up.
The gritty Pirates, who saw Garwey Dual (13 pts, 4 assists) play well, kept scratching and before you knew it they had compiled a 26-9 run and held a 55-53 lead.
Two Joseph free throws, an Abdur-Rahim 3-pointer and then a difficult step-back jumper by the veteran shooter provided a nice answer and 60-55 lead.
The Friars left the door open down the stretch as Floyd and Pierre missed key free throws. Leading 69-66, PC chose to foul Isaiah Coleman once he crossed the midcourt stripe. While it appeared he clearly fouled the Pirate guard before a shooting motion, Pierre was whistled for a shooting foul. Coleman, who struggled to an 0-of-10 night, missed the first free throw attempt to end what would have been a nightmarish finish.
“I’m much more concerned with why we were in that situation to begin with,” English said.
English was asked by New Jersey reporters what the status of Bryce Hopkins will be, not only the rets of this season but in 2025-26. English said the process to get Hopkins fully healthy has begun and “we’re very excited to get started the process with him now and looking forward to having him next season.”
