PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Interstat) — In a gritty, defensive-minded Big East battle that came down to the final possession, Seton Hall weathered a furious second-half rally from Providence to secure a 72-67 victory on Friday night at a sold-out Dunkin’ Center.

The Pirates, who led by as many as 14 points in the first half, saw their comfortable advantage evaporate completely in the second period before making the critical plays in the final minute to escape with their seventh consecutive win. The victory improved Seton Hall to 11-1 overall, while Providence fell to 7-6.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the closing 70 seconds, with Seton Hall clinging to a two-point lead. After Providence’s Jamier Jones hit a floating jumper to cut the deficit to 65-63 with 1:53 remaining, the Friars had multiple opportunities to tie or take the lead. Seton Hall’s defense, however, held firm. Following a timeout, the Pirates executed a crucial set that saw Adam Clark find Stephon Payne for a layup to push the lead back to 67-63.

On the ensuing possession, Providence worked the ball to Jaylin Sellers, who was fouled on a drive and made both free throws to make it 67-65 with 1:16 left. The Pirates then bled the shot clock before Clark, the steady senior point guard from Philadelphia, found a curling TJ Simpkins, who drained a clutch three-pointer from the wing with 1:02 remaining. That shot, giving Seton Hall a 70-65 cushion, proved to be the decisive blow.

Providence had two chances to answer, but Sellers missed a driving layup and, after a pair of Clark free throws extended the lead to 72-65, Stefan Vaaks missed a three-pointer in the final seconds to seal the outcome.

The game was a tale of two halves, defined by Seton Hall’s early control and Providence’s resilient fightback. The Pirates dominated the opening 20 minutes, using their size and physicality to build a 35-28 halftime lead. They controlled the paint, outscoring Providence 34-28 inside, and capitalized on second-chance opportunities. Simpkins, a dynamic guard from Brooklyn, was the catalyst, scoring 15 of his game-high 22 points in the first half, repeatedly attacking the rim and drawing fouls.

Providence, which shot poorly in the opening period, emerged from the locker room with renewed energy. Fueled by the offensive spark of Vaaks, who scored all 15 of his points after halftime, and the playmaking of Jason Edwards, the Friars unleashed a 19-8 run to start the second half. A three-pointer from Edwards at the 16:07 mark gave Providence its first lead of the game at 41-38, sending the crowd of 10,993 into a frenzy.

The game then settled into a tense back-and-forth affair, featuring eight lead changes and five ties in the second half alone. Edwards finished with 10 points and five assists for Providence, while Sellers added 13 points. Jamier Jones contributed 11 points and was a disruptive force defensively.

Seton Hall’s response to losing the lead was anchored by its veterans. Payne, a powerful forward from Jacksonville, Florida, was relentless inside, scoring 18 points and grabbing key offensive rebounds. Clark managed the game expertly down the stretch, finishing with nine points and seven assists. Elijah Fisher added 10 points for the Pirates.

Despite being outscored 19-12 in points off turnovers and 10-4 in fastbreak points, Seton Hall’s poise in the final minutes and its ability to get crucial stops when needed made the difference. The Pirates also benefited from a significant advantage at the free-throw line, making 22 attempts to Providence’s 15.

The win continues a strong start to the season for Seton Hall under coach Shaheen Holloway, whose team has now won tough road games at Kansas State and Providence. The Friars, meanwhile, were left to lament another close loss in a season that has seen several, including a double-overtime defeat to Butler in their previous outing.

Seton Hall looks to continue its momentum when it hosts Villanova on Tuesday. Providence opens its January conference schedule on the road at Saint John’s on Jan. 3.