Defending NIT Champion North Texas to Visit Top-Seeded Seton Hall

North Texas vs Seton Hall

North Texas vs Seton Hall | Image: Sportsession/YouTube

Exclusion of Seton Hall from the NCAA Tournament bracket, a decision that sparked criticism from within the conference, was a notable event.

Following consultations with experienced players and seniors, head coach Shaheen Holloway and the top-seeded Pirates decided to continue competing in the NIT, a decision that proved fruitful in their first-round match.

This Saturday, the Pirates will strive to progress further in the tournament as they host North Texas in South Orange, New Jersey.

Seton Hall, with a record of 21-12, managed to bounce back from the disappointment of missing out on the major championship, showcasing resilience as they secured a thrilling 75-72 overtime victory against St. Joseph’s in their compact on-campus venue on Wednesday.

Al-Amir Dawes played a crucial role in Seton Hall’s advancement, contributing 26 points and 10 rebounds, aiding in overturning an eight-point deficit during the second half. Dawes’ standout performance included a game-tying 3-pointer at the end of regulation and a decisive 3-pointer in the closing minute of overtime.

“Despite what happened, we just wanted to play,” Dawes said. “We made that decision collectively. One down.”

Dylan Addae-Wusu recorded 18 points, while Dre Davis delivered 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, compensating for Kadary Richmond‘s subdued six-point output. Four of Seton Hall’s starters clocked in over 40 minutes, with Davis playing the entirety of the 45-minute contest.

“We wanted to play, especially for our seniors going out, to get an opportunity to keep on playing and do something special,” Davis said.

Should Seton Hall progress past North Texas, they will have the opportunity to host either Boston College or UNLV in the ensuing week for a chance to secure a spot in the semifinals held in Indianapolis.

North Texas, the defending NIT titleholders, with a record of 19-14, kicked off their title defense with an 84-77 victory against LSU, equaling their season-high points tally on Tuesday.

CJ Noland spearheaded the team’s effort with 21 points, leading four players who reached double figures. Noland has hit double digits in seven of the last eight games since returning from an injury.

“We have a bunch of young men who are ecstatic,” Mean Green assistant coach Johnny Estelle told the Denton Record-Chronicle. “They have been through so much, keep hanging in with each other and believing in each other. They don’t want the season to end.”

Rubin Jones contributed 17 points against LSU, with Jason Edwards, Aaron Scott, and Robert Allen combining for 38 points as North Texas extended their streak of scoring at least 70 points for the seventh consecutive game. 

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