Seton Hall Pirates Knock Of No. 23 NC State Wolfpack At Southwest Maui Invitational
In a game that had all the makings of a pre-Thanksgiving feast, it was the Seton Hall Pirates who did all the carving. The No. 23 NC State Wolfpack rolled into the Maui Invitational with a shiny ranking and high hopes, only to get thoroughly dismantled 85-74 in a stunning opener. This wasn’t just a loss; it was a wake-up call that probably registered on seismographs back in Raleigh. The Wolfpack became the first ranked team this season to take a tumble against an unranked opponent.
From the opening tip in the beautiful but apparently unforgiving Lahaina Civic Center, Seton Hall played with the frenetic energy of a team that had something to prove. Picked to finish dead last in the Big East, the Pirates looked less like a basement-dweller and more like a wrecking crew. Their chaotic, athletic defense completely flustered the Wolfpack, preventing them from ever finding a comfortable rhythm. It was like watching a finely-tuned orchestra try to play in the middle of a mosh pit.
Seton Hall’s Defense Was the Story
You can talk about stats all day, but this game came down to pure, unadulterated defensive grit from Seton Hall. They were everywhere. Coach Shaheen Holloway must have told his guys that the basketball had personally insulted their families, because they hounded it with a vengeance. The Pirates racked up an impressive 11 steals and 9 blocked shots, turning defense into offense and leaving NC State looking bewildered.
AJ Staton-McCray was the human highlight reel, leading the charge with a season-high 22 points and seemingly defying gravity on an alley-oop that felt like the final nail in the coffin. He wasn’t alone, though. Seton Hall had six players score in double figures, showcasing a balanced attack that kept the Wolfpack guessing. It was a complete team effort, the kind that makes a coach grin and opposing fans reach for the antacids.
A Tough Day For the Wolfpack
For NC State, it was a trip to paradise that quickly turned into a nightmare. Star Forward Darrion Williams, who came in scoring over 23 points per game, was held to just 12. Seton Hall’s defense swarmed him, never letting him get comfortable in his sweet spots. It was a masterclass in taking away a team’s best weapon.
There was a brief glimmer of hope for the Wolfpack. Freshman Guard Matt Able came off the bench and provided a spark, scoring 15 points and showing flashes of the five-star talent he is. But it was too little, too late. The Wolfpack’s offense was clunky, their shooting was inconsistent (25-of-59 from the field is rough), and they just couldn’t match the relentless pressure from the Pirates.
In the end, NC State looked like a team that wasn’t quite ready for the big stage, while Seton Hall played with the chip on their shoulder that only being picked last can provide. As ESPN’s Seth Greenberg noted, “Seton Hall made it happen.” And they made it happen spectacularly, leaving the Wolfpack to regroup and figure out what went so wrong on a beautiful Hawaiian morning.
