Seton Hall Hosts Marquette in Big East Clash

NEWARK, N.J. (Interstat) — The Seton Hall Pirates look to solidify their standing in the Big East Conference when they host the struggling Marquette Golden Eagles on Saturday at Prudential Center.

Seton Hall (15-6 overall) enters the matchup having won four of its last five, including an 86-68 victory over Xavier on Wednesday. The Pirates are led by guard Adam Clark, who scored 24 points in that win and is averaging 16.4 points over his last five games.

Marquette (8-14) snapped a three-game skid with an 86-62 home win over Creighton on Tuesday. The Golden Eagles are propelled by the hot hand of guard Nigel James, who poured in 21 points and seven assists in that victory. James is averaging 22.3 points over his last seven contests, including a 38-point outburst in an overtime win over Providence on Jan. 19.

The Pirates won the first meeting this season, 79-73, at Marquette on Dec. 30.

Despite their record, the Golden Eagles have shown offensive firepower, scoring 105 points in their win over Providence and 86 against Creighton. Containing James will be a primary focus for a Seton Hall defense that has held opponents under 70 points in 12 of its 15 wins.

Seton Hall’s balanced attack features Clark alongside TJ Simpkins, who had a game-high 27 points against Xavier.

The game tips off at noon EST on Saturday, Jan. 31, as part of the Big East conference schedule. For Seton Hall, it’s a chance to build momentum before a tough road stretch at Villanova and Creighton next week. Marquette seeks its first winning streak since December and a crucial road victory to climb the conference ladder.