NEW YORK (Interstat) — In a grinding Big East tournament quarterfinal defined by defense and missed opportunities, Seton Hall wore down Creighton over 40 minutes to secure a 72-61 victory Thursday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.

A crowd of 19,812 saw the Pirates, the home team by designation, advance by controlling the paint, capitalizing at the free-throw line and stifling a cold-shooting Bluejays squad. The game was a stark contrast to the teams’ two regular-season meetings, both decided by a single possession.

The most important part of the game was a decisive 12-2 run by Seton Hall midway through the second half that broke open a tight contest. With Creighton having clawed to within 47-45 on a Josh Dix layup with just under 11 minutes to play, the Pirates responded with authority. Adam Clark found Jacob Dar for a three-pointer, and after a Bluejays turnover, Dar struck again from deep, this time off a feed from Trey Parker. The surge continued as Clark orchestrated the offense, finding A.J. Staton-McCray for an alley-oop and later hitting a pull-up jumper. When the run ended, Seton Hall held a 61-47 lead with 3:28 remaining, a margin Creighton could not overcome.

The game was a struggle for Creighton’s offense from the outset. The Bluejays shot just 33.3% from the field and a frigid 23.5% from three-point range. They managed only four assists against nine turnovers, highlighting a stagnant offensive night. Seton Hall was not much more efficient, shooting 40.7% overall, but the Pirates compensated by making 20 of 26 free throws and committing just six turnovers.

Josh Dix led all scorers with 22 points for Creighton, adding six rebounds and four assists. Nik Graves provided 15 points and five assists, but the Bluejays’ supporting offense was limited. Austin Swartz scored 10 points, and Jasen Green grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked three shots but was held to four points.

Seton Hall’s victory was a balanced effort. Adam Clark, the sophomore guard from Philadelphia, directed the Pirates with 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Omaha native Jacob Dar provided a massive spark off the bench, scoring all 16 of his points in the second half, including two critical three-pointers during the game-breaking run. Elijah Fisher added nine points.

The first half set the tone for a defensive battle. Both teams started slowly, combining for several missed shots and turnovers in the opening minutes. Seton Hall built a modest lead, going up 33-26 at halftime by holding Creighton to 26 points on 30% shooting.

Creighton showed brief signs of life early in the second half, with Dix hitting a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 35-34. The Bluejays stayed within striking distance until Dar’s back-to-back threes ignited the crowd and the Pirates’ pivotal run.

With the win, Seton Hall improved to 21-11 and advanced to the Big East tournament semifinals. Creighton’s season ended with a record of 15-17. The game’s total of 133 points fell under the pregame over/under line of 135.5, consistent with the defensive struggle on the court. Seton Hall covered the pregame spread of -2.5 as a narrow favorite, though national statistical models had slightly favored Creighton to win.