Jared Rhoden, who scored 25 factors, goes up for a shot throughout Seton Corridor's 73-71 win over No. 25 Xavier.
N.Y. Submit: Charles Wenzelberg
Seton Corridor’s annual midseason swoon seems to be over. Simply as necessary, it appears like Jared Rhoden may very well be previous his struggles as nicely.
With the senior star main the way in which, and the Pirates proudly owning the glass, they gained for the third straight time, holding off No. 25 Xavier, 73-71, at Prudential Middle on Wednesday evening to additional solidify their NCAA Event standing.
“I’ve been placing in lots of additional work. I’ve been actually killing myself, simply grinding it out, getting lots of photographs up, watching lots of movie,” Rhoden mentioned. “I’m so joyful this sport turned out that method as a result of I labored exhausting for it.”
Rhoden scored 9 of his game-high 25 factors within the remaining 3:58 as Seton Corridor withstood a number of Xavier runs after constructing a 14-point, first-half lead. Rhoden, who had struggled mightily throughout the Pirates’ 4 losses in 5 video games in late January, additionally had eight rebounds and reached the 20-point plateau for the primary time in seven contests. He sank 5 3-pointers — as many as he had made in his earlier six video games.
“I believe Jared’s beginning to get again to the way in which he was taking part in earlier than the COVID-19 shutdown,” Seton Corridor coach Kevin Willard mentioned, referring to his star’s bout with the virus in December. “He’s taking part in actually easy basketball, letting the sport come to him. … He’s stepping in, taking pictures the basketball, and he’s simply taking part in easy basketball, which when he does that, I believe he’s nearly as good as anyone.”
His 3-pointer with 3:15 left pushed the result in six and, whereas Xavier obtained shut, it by no means was in a position to get even. Paul Scruggs’ full-court heave on the horn was simply off to the appropriate.
The Pirates (15-7, 6-6 Massive East) have begun to seem like the crew that was so spectacular throughout the non-conference season, profitable these final three video games regardless of the continued absence of star guard Bryce Aiken (concussion). They crushed Xavier on the glass, 41-28, and held it to 4 of 14 taking pictures from 3-point vary.
“After we rebound and defend the three, we’re fairly good,” Willard mentioned.
Alexis Yetna added 12 factors and 5 rebounds and Kadary Richmond had seven factors, eight rebounds and 5 assists for Seton Corridor. Jack Nunge had 22 factors for Xavier (16-7, 6-6).
Seton Corridor picked up the place it left off in Friday’s 19-point win over Creighton by proudly owning the primary 20 minutes. It was the extra bodily, determined and disciplined crew. It owned the paint, compelled 10 turnovers and managed the glass. The second half was a unique story, with Xavier popping out scorching and the sport devolving right into a free-throw taking pictures contest attributable to three whistle-happy referees.
However the Pirates by no means misplaced their lead, making simply sufficient performs down the stretch. Now they head right into a brutal two-game highway journey at No. 15 Villanova and No. 24 UConn with ample momentum.
“It’s undoubtedly going to be a measuring stick,” Willard mentioned. “I believe it’s the 2 hardest highway locations [in the Big East].”
Post a Comment