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 br
