Al-Amir Dawes scored 26 points, including key 3-pointers late in regulation and overtime, as Seton Hall nipped Saint Joseph’s 75-72 on Wednesday in a first-round NIT matchup in South Orange, N.J.
Dawes added 10 rebounds to join teammate Dre Davis (14 points, 11 boards) in double figures in scoring and rebounding. Dylan Addae-Wusu chipped in 18 points for the Pirates (21-12), who will face North Texas in the second round on Saturday.
Erik Reynolds II led the Hawks (21-14) with 27 points, while Xzayvier Brown notched 13 points and 10 assists. Christ Essandoko pitched in with 14 points and eight boards for Saint Joe’s.
The score was tied at 70-70 midway through overtime until Davis’ jumper gave Seton Hall a lead with 1:48 left. Thirty-eight seconds later, Reynolds tied the score with a layup as the ball sat on the rim for a full second before falling in.
That basket set up Dawes’ go-ahead 3-pointer on the other end — a shot from the left wing that fell through with 47.6 seconds to go. Looking to tie the score, the Hawks missed two 3-pointers down the stretch, including Reynolds’ shot that rimmed off just before the final buzzer.
A competitive first half ended with the Hawks ahead 40-37. Reynolds paced St. Joe’s with 16 first-half points, while Addae-Wusu led the Pirates with 13.
St. Joe’s led by eight points about six minutes into the second half until Seton Hall made a major move, going on a 15-2 run to take a five-point lead with under eight minutes to go in regulation.
The Pirates led by seven with about three minutes remaining in the second half before the Hawks erupted for 10 consecutive points. Brown and Reynolds each drained a 3-pointer before layups by Cameron Brown and Reynolds put St. Joe’s ahead 68-65 with 42.2 seconds to go.
Dawes tied the score with a 3-pointer with 29.3 seconds left and then Davis blocked Cameron Brown’s jumper on the other end, sending the game to overtime.
–Field Level Media
