Seton Hall hangs up on OSU with long-distance shooting
Published 12:00 am Sunday, December 21, 2003
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Playing for the first time this season with a full roster, Seton Hall showcased its talent on both ends of the floor in getting revenge on Ohio State.
J.R. Morris scored 19 points Saturday and Seton Hall hit nine 3-pointers while holding Ohio State to 34 percent shooting in a 75-59 victory.
''This is very exciting,'' senior forward Marcus Toney-El said after the Pirates posted their second straight blowout and avenged a 17-point loss last season at Ohio State (5-4).
''The whole team is back. We are playing together,'' Toney-El added. ''It was a big win beating Ohio State, but we have to do it for the remainder of the season.''
Doing for the whole season has been the Pirates' rallying cry since last season, when they didn't get an invitation to the NCAA tournament despite posting a 17-13 record that included 10 wins in the Big East Conference.
With starting center Kelly Whitney (eligibility problems) and backup point guard Donald Copeland (foot injury) back in the lineup for the first time on Saturday, Seton Hall was impressive.
John Allen had 17 points and Andre Barrett had 14 and six assists for the Pirates, who built a 22-point halftime lead and increased the margin to 30 before sending in the reserve to mop things up.
Ohio State coach Jim O'Brien wished his team played as intense as Seton Hall.
''When you combine how well they played and their performance with our effort and seeming lack of interest, that's a recipe for disaster,'' O'Brien said. ''I was not happy at all with the intensity and passion that our first group played with.''
Tony Stockman was the only Buckeye in double figures, scoring 10 points on 4-for-15 shooting.
The Pirates hit seven of their first 11 three-pointers and shot nearly 52 percent in opening a 41-19 halftime lead. The margin grew to 30 points with 4:40 to play when Alex Gambino made a free throw for a 72-42 lead.
A 17-3 run by Ohio State, with most of the starters from both teams on the bench, made the final score more respectable.
''We have to stay hungry,'' Seton Hall coach Louis Orr said. ''We can't be full yet.''
Ohio State entered the game allowing opponents to shoot 43 percent from 3-point range. The Pirates exploited that weakness in the first half.
Allen hit three 3-pointers and Barrett and Morris, who was 8-for-11 from the field, made one apiece in a 24-5 spurt that gave Seton Hall a 32-13 lead.
Even a badly missed 3-pointer by Allen near the buzzer turned out fine. Damian Fray grabbed the shot and slammed home the ball as the horn sounded. O'Brien shook his head and walked off the court.
The Buckeyes played without forward Matt Sylvester, who was suspended for a game for elbowing against Furman earlier this week.
Whitney had four points and a team-high six rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench. Copeland had two points, but his presence allowed Barrett to rest - only 33 minutes - for one of the few times this season.