Seton Hall rallies past Butler in Big East clash

AJ Staton-McCray scores 15 of his 19 points in the second half to lead Seton Hall's comeback win over Butler.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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AJ Staton-McCray scored 15 of his 19 points in the second half to rally Seton Hall to a 63-56 Big East win over Butler on Sunday in Indianapolis. Mike Williams III added 10 points, including 9 in the final 11 minutes, as the Pirates came from 7 points down in the second half to avenge an 11-point home loss to the Bulldogs last month.

Why it matters

The win helps Seton Hall (18-8, 8-7 Big East) stay in the hunt for a top-half finish in the competitive Big East conference, while Butler (13-13, 4-11) continues to struggle with injuries to key players like leading scorer Finley Bizjack.

The details

Seton Hall shot 49% from the field and hit 5 of 15 (33.3%) from 3-point range. Butler's Michael Ajayi had a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds, but the Bulldogs were without their second-leading scorer Finley Bizjack, who suffered a wrist injury in their previous game.

  • The game was played on Sunday, February 16, 2026.
  • Seton Hall trailed by 7 points in the second half before rallying for the win.

The players

AJ Staton-McCray

A Seton Hall player who scored 15 of his 19 points in the second half to lead the Pirates' comeback.

Mike Williams III

A Seton Hall player who scored 9 of his 10 points in the final 11 minutes to help the Pirates rally past Butler.

Michael Ajayi

The leading rebounder in the Big East, who had a double-double of 21 points and 12 rebounds for Butler.

Finley Bizjack

Butler's second-leading scorer who missed the game due to a wrist injury.

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What they’re saying

“This was a huge win for us to come back from 7 points down in the second half. The team really showed a lot of fight and grit to get this victory.”

— AJ Staton-McCray (Seton Hall Athletics)

What’s next

Seton Hall will look to build on this comeback win as they continue their push for a top-half Big East finish, while Butler will need to find a way to overcome the loss of leading scorer Finley Bizjack as they try to turn their season around.

The takeaway

Seton Hall's ability to rally from a second-half deficit and avenge an earlier loss to Butler demonstrates the resilience and competitive spirit of the Pirates, who are fighting to secure a strong position in the crowded Big East standings.