Indiana State guard Isaiah Swope adjusted his size, stepping back off the dribble near the half-court line before stepping forward and confidently stepping into a deep 3-pointer. The shot went off the net and the Sycamores held a seven-point lead against Seton Hall in the NIT Championship Game with just over three minutes remaining.
Seton Hall will have to play perfect basketball down the stretch to pull out a win. Somehow, they pulled it off.
The Pirates defeated Indiana State 79-77 thanks to a wild late rally in the final minutes.
Seton Hall star Cadary Richmond rebounded a layup and converted a putback on the next possession after Swope’s three-ball. The Pirates added two more points on free throws by Al Amir Dawes. Then, with just over a minute left in regulation, Dawes hit a clutch three-pointer to tie the game. Dre Davis’ layup with 20 seconds left was the winning goal.
Indiana State wowed the crowd at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis with a quick run that took control of the game late in the second half. Their poor shot selection late on took all the air out of the building. Here’s how Indiana State’s final possession went after Swope’s big man.
- Robbie Avila misses 3-point shot
- Isaiah Swope misses a 3-point shot
- Robbie Avila misses 3-point shot
- Julian Lally missed a 3-point shot. Jason Kent missed a layup after an offensive rebound.
- Isaiah Swope missed a 3-point shot.Ryan Conwell misses 3-point shot after offensive rebound
All was well for Indiana State just minutes earlier, as Swope’s 3-pointer brought a team that had been eliminated from the 2024 Men’s NCAA Tournament to the brink of a feel-good victory.
Seton Hall and Indiana State were the two most neglected schools in the field of 68. Both teams lacked strong enough resumes to earn at-large bids in the eyes of the selection committee, but it’s hard to trust their process after choosing Virginia and Indiana State. others.
The NIT was a great tournament from start to finish, with the championship game having all the drama you want from tournament basketball. Unfortunately for the Sycamores, someone had to lose.
Cadary Richmond led Seton Hall in the game with 21 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks. Al Amir Dawes scored a game-high 24 points for the Pirates. Seton Hall finished its second season under head coach Shaheen Holloway with a record of 25 wins and 12 losses. It was only a few years ago that Holloway and St. Peter’s became darlings of March Madness as the 15th seed to make the Elite Eight. This Pirates team could have made some noise if given the chance.
It’s a heartbreaking ending for Indiana. Avila had 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in the loss. Swope led the team with 19 points.
