Butler University Triumphs Over Seton Hall
In a decisive matchup, Butler University triumphed over the 25th-ranked Seton Hall Pirates with a score of 77-66, ending their four-game skid on Saturday in Newark, New Jersey.
Key Performers
Leading the charge for Butler was Finley Bizjack, who delivered an impressive performance with 25 points, including four successful 3-point shots from seven attempts, and maintained a flawless 7-for-7 at the free-throw line.
Adding to the Bulldogs’ offensive effort, Azavier Robinson contributed 14 points, while Michael Ajayi also shone with 13 points, marking his 17th double-digit game of the season. Butler entered this game with a season record of 11 wins and 7 losses, and a 2-5 standing in the Big East Conference.
Seton Hall’s Struggles
On the other side, AJ Staton-McCray was the standout for Seton Hall, scoring 17 points. Both Mike Williams and freshman Najai Hines scored 11 points each, with Hines also grabbing an impressive 16 rebounds. Seton Hall, which holds a 14-4 record with a 4-3 conference mark, managed to narrow the gap to 63-57 with just under four minutes left in the game.
However, crucial late-game free throws from Ajayi and Drayton Jones, who added 11 points, widened Butler’s lead to a more comfortable 10 points.
Shooting Woes for Seton Hall
Seton Hall’s shooting woes continued, as they struggled from beyond the arc, hitting only 17.6% of their 3-point attempts (3 of 17). This dismal performance follows another disappointing outing where they connected on just 1 of 16 attempts in a recent loss to No. 3 UConn.
Previously, Seton Hall had been forecasted to finish at the bottom of the Big East in the pre-season poll, largely due to a challenging prior season that saw them incur 25 losses, the highest in school history.
Looking Ahead
The victory not only improves Butler’s record but also highlights their resilience as they now prepare to take on DePaul in their next game. Meanwhile, Seton Hall will face St. John’s as they look to bounce back from this defeat.
