Seton Hall improved to 3-0 for the second time under coach Shaheen Holloway with an 82-59 victory over visiting Fairfield on Monday night in South Orange, N.J.

After a lackluster showing in its last victory, Holloway guaranteed a better effort by Seton Hall. That’s exactly what happened, as A.J. Staton-McCray set the tone early and finished with 13 points (3-for-4 on 3-pointers), along with four steals.

Pirates freshman Najai Hines (10 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks) had the first double-double of his career. During the second half, after McCray had a steal and transition layup to give Seton Hall a 61-45 lead, a Hines block led to a fast break that ended with a no-look pass from Trey Parker to set up Jacob Dar for a layup.

Mike Williams and Elijah Fisher also scored 10 apiece for the Pirates.

Seton Hall’s defense smothered the Stags all game long. The Pirates tallied 13 blocks and 12 steals, and forced Fairfield into 17 turnovers.

Braden Sparks led Fairfield (1-2) with 20 points (3-for-5 on 3-pointers). Nasir Rodriguez added 12 and freshman Brandon Benjamin tallied 11 points and nine boards, including his first college 3-pointer.

Seton Hall’s Elijah Fisher made a wing 3-pointer on an assist from Mike Williams. Then interior baskets from Stephon Payne and Fisher put Seton Hall ahead 46-32 with 16:40 to go.

Fairfield worked its way into the free-throw bonus with 13:54 remaining in the game but couldn’t capitalize.

Seton Hall took a 35-28 lead into halftime after Tajuan Simpkins’ buzzer-beating layup. In the first half, Seton Hall had 16 points in the paint while holding Fairfield to just two in that category.

Fairfield kept it close in the first half because of its 3-point shooting, making five of its 11 attempts. Sparks scored the Stags’ first 10 points on a pair of 3-pointers, two free throws and a jumper.

Fairfield went on a 7-0 run in the first half to trim the deficit to 20-17, capped off with a floater by Sparks.

Hines had a block and then ran the floor hard for a tip-in basket to extend Seton Hall’s lead to 23-17. Adam Clark scored on a layup and the ensuing free throw to put the Pirates ahead 26-20 with 6:31 in the first half.

–Field Level Media