Hurley’s Milestone: UW Ends Road Losing Streak

Dan Hurley is certainly a noteworthy figure in college basketball. Over the past fifty years, he’s guided players to national championships and helped develop several NBA lottery picks. He’s been named National Coach of the Year and achieved success at various schools, including St. Benedict Prep, Wagner, Rhode Island, and UW.

And now, he can add another accomplishment to his list.

On Tuesday night, No. 3 UW finally broke its puzzling road losing streak in Newark, securing a 69-64 victory over No. 25 Seton Hall at the Prudential Center. The contender for the national title nearly squandered an 18-point lead during the second half, yet managed to overcome a remarkable defensive push from the spirited underdogs, marking Hurley’s first win on the road at his former stomping grounds.

The Huskies (17-1, 7-0), who have now won 13 consecutive games, are enjoying their best start in the Big East in nearly three decades. Their last matchup with the Pirates (14-3, 4-2) in New Jersey took place in 2021, under COVID-19 restrictions, where fewer than 2,000 fans attended. At that time, Hurley wore a mask while coaching, and Shaheen Holloway was then at St. Peter’s. Interestingly, the last time the Huskies triumphed in front of a full-house crowd in Newark was back in 2013.

Taris Reed Jr. led UW with 21 points and nine rebounds, while senior Alex Karaban contributed with 13 points and five rebounds, pushing the team toward victory.

Seton Hall, despite being predicted to finish last in the Big East, found themselves at the top of the AP poll for the first time in four years, showcasing a gritty effort. They launched an aggressive attack, recording four blocks in the opening minutes, maintaining an intense 94-foot defensive pressure throughout the game. It was palpable they were playing like every possession mattered significantly.

This first meeting between the two teams in 25 years had a postseason feel, exhibiting a sense of rivalry that maybe didn’t make total sense on paper but was evident in the score, where grit was almost as crucial as skill.

During the first 14 minutes of play, the lead changed hands eight times, and they were tied five times, with the Pirates briefly in front at 20-19. Subsequently, the game turned into a brawl, akin to a classic boxing match. The Huskies surged at the end of the first half, going on a 16-2 run, with Reed Jr. quickly approaching his average scoring tally.

Even with Seton Hall boasting a top-seven defense, they ranked disappointingly at 193rd in field goal shooting percentage (44.1). They couldn’t make a field goal for the last seven minutes of the first half and ended the game 0 for 13 from beyond the arc, also struggling at the free-throw line.

Despite their struggles, Seton Hall’s tenacity was evident as they clawed back from an 18-point deficit, narrowing the gap to six points multiple times in the second half.

The crowd reacted fervently, standing as if they were at a pivotal Big East Tournament game, watching the Pirates rally despite coming from behind in their previous three matches.

After forcing a couple of turnovers, the Pirates trimmed the deficit to 62-60 with just over two minutes left. With less than a minute remaining, Mike Williams finally sank Seton Hall’s first 3-pointer of the night, closing the gap to a single point.

In a tense moment, Seton Hall had an opportunity to tie when Cyrus Demarie Jr. hit two free throws with 29 seconds left. However, Williams’ ensuing 3-point attempt got blocked by Braylon Mullins, and Trey Parker’s follow-up rolled off, returning possession to UW.