Seton Hall Looks to Rebound Against Marquette in Big East Clash

MILWAUKEE (Interstat) — A surging Seton Hall squad aims to bounce back from its first loss in nearly a month when it visits a struggling Marquette team in a Big East Conference men’s basketball matchup Tuesday at the Bradley Center.

The Pirates (11-2) saw an eight-game win streak snapped in a 64-56 home loss to Villanova on Dec. 23. Prior to that, Seton Hall had not lost since Nov. 25, a stretch featuring notable road wins at Providence and Kansas State. Guard Josh Rivera, coming off a 10-point performance in 15 minutes against Villanova, is a key rotational piece for the Pirates.

Marquette (5-8) has lost four straight, most recently an 84-63 defeat at Creighton on Dec. 20. The Golden Eagles’ season has been marked by narrow defeats, including three overtime losses. They will lean on guard Nigel James, who scored 23 points in the loss to Creighton and has been a consistent offensive bright spot during the skid.

The matchup presents a stark contrast in trajectories. Seton Hall’s defense has been a cornerstone, holding opponents under 70 points in nine of its 11 wins. Marquette, conversely, has allowed 78 or more points in six of its eight losses, including 96 to Wisconsin and 89 to Maryland.

Tuesday’s game opens the conference slate for both teams. Seton Hall will look to re-establish its defensive identity on the road, while Marquette seeks a reset and a signature win to reverse its early-season fortunes.

The Golden Eagles won both meetings last season. The teams are scheduled to meet again in Newark, New Jersey, on Jan. 31.

Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. CST.