Despite Addae-Wusu’s Stellar Performance, Seton Hall Falls Short Against Villanova

Newark, N.J. — The Seton Hall men’s basketball team faced off against Villanova at Prudential Center on Wednesday night. The Pirates started strong, leading by ten points at halftime. However, Villanova made a comeback and narrowly won, 59-54.

Dylan Addae-Wusu led Seton Hall with 18 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Prince Aligbe contributed 10 points and nine rebounds. Both teams played evenly overall, but Villanova found success at the free throw line, hitting 18 of 22 attempts while Seton Hall made only 8 of 17.

The Game:

Villanova took an early 10-7 lead, but Seton Hall responded with a solid 12-2 run, pushing their lead to 19-13 with just over 11 minutes left in the first half. Villanova managed to close the gap, but a key three-pointer from Addae-Wusu sparked another run, putting Seton Hall up by 13 at 31-18.

The Pirates’ defense shined during this stretch, holding Villanova scoreless for over nine minutes. Seton Hall continued strong into the second half, starting with a three-pointer from Aligbe that extended their lead to 16 points—their biggest of the game.

But Villanova didn’t back down. They launched a powerful 24-4 run over 11 minutes, allowing them to take control of the game. At one point, Eric Dixon scored five quick points, increasing Villanova’s lead to seven, 50-43.

In the closing minutes, Seton Hall fought back. Aligbe hit two free throws, cutting the deficit to five. Then Garwey Dual grabbed a steal and scored, making it a three-point game. Dual followed that with another steal, bringing Seton Hall even closer at 50-49. Despite their efforts, the Pirates couldn’t tie or take the lead, missing critical shots and ultimately having to foul as the clock wound down.

Quick Facts:

• Seton Hall’s 12-point lead at halftime was their largest of the season.
• They lost after leading by 16 points, marking the biggest lead lost this season.
• The last eight matchups at Prudential Center between these teams have all been decided by 10 points or less.
• Isaiah Coleman has now had 18 games scoring in double figures this season.
• Addae-Wusu reached his 52nd career double-figure scoring game and his 27th with five or more assists.
• Aligbe achieved his 10th double-figure game of the season.

Looking Ahead:

The Pirates will next head to Madison Square Garden to challenge No. 7 St. John’s at 2:15 p.m. The game will be shown on CBS.