HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

Al-Amir Dawes scored 11 of his 14 points during a decisive game-ending run Monday night for host Seton Hall, which fended off an upset bid by Saint Peter's to earn a 70-59 victory in the season opener between local rivals in Newark, N.J.

Kadary Richmond scored a game-high 18 points, while Dre Davis had 14 points for Seton Hall, which outscored Saint Peter's 29-12 in the final 9:33 run to improve to 54-25 all-time against the Peacocks. Dylan Addae-Wusu added 10 points.

Seton Hall has won both its season openers under Shaheen Holloway, who took over the Pirates after coaching Saint Peter's to the Elite Eight in March 2022.

Latrell Reid scored 14 points, while Michael Houge (11 points) and Armoni Zeigler (10 points) also got into double figures for Saint Peter's, which was trying to upset Seton Hall for the first time since 2013.

Neither club led by more than five points in the first half, which ended with Saint Peter's ahead 27-26. The teams combined to shoot 37.7 percent (20-of-53) during the first 20 minutes, including 22.2 percent (4-of-18) from 3-point land.

There were eight lead changes in the first six minutes of the second half, the last when Elijah Wood sank a 3-pointer to put Saint Peter's ahead 39-38 and begin an 11-3 run for the Peacocks, who took their biggest lead at 47-41 on Ziegler's 3-pointer with 9:33 remaining. Seton Hall was 0-for-1 from the field with four turnovers during the run.

The Pirates then scored eight straight points and took a 49-47 lead on Dawes' layup with 7:56 remaining. Houge responded with a 3-pointer, but Dawes answered with a 3-pointer to put Seton Hall up for good. The Peacocks missed seven of their last 10 shots from the field while committing six turnovers in that span.

--Field Level Media