Clark's 31 points power Seton Hall past Providence

Junior point guard leads Pirates to crucial Big East win

Feb. 12, 2026 at 2:07am

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Budd Clark scored 21 of his game-high 31 points in the second half to lead Seton Hall to an 87-80 victory over Providence on Wednesday night. The junior point guard's dominant performance helped the Pirates bounce back from a tough loss to Creighton over the weekend and keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive.

Why it matters

Seton Hall entered the game in need of a bounce-back win to stay in the hunt for a NCAA Tournament berth. The victory over Providence, a fellow Big East contender, was a crucial result that keeps the Pirates firmly in the mix for a postseason bid.

The details

Clark took over the game in the second half, scoring 21 of his 31 points after halftime to power Seton Hall's comeback. The Pirates trailed by four at the break, but Clark's scoring outburst, along with contributions from A.J. Staton-McCray (18 points) and Tajuan Simpkins (13 points), allowed Seton Hall to rally and secure the victory. The win was especially impressive considering Clark played through foul trouble for much of the second half.

  • Seton Hall trailed by four points at halftime.
  • Clark scored 21 of his 31 points in the second half.
  • Clark picked up his third and fourth fouls in the second half but continued to play aggressively.

The players

Budd Clark

A junior point guard for Seton Hall who scored a game-high 31 points, including 21 in the second half, to lead the Pirates to victory.

A.J. Staton-McCray

A Seton Hall player who scored 18 points and helped complement Clark's performance.

Tajuan Simpkins

A Seton Hall player who scored 13 points, including 9 in the second half, to aid the Pirates' comeback.

Godswill Erheriene

A Seton Hall sophomore center who provided an unexpected lift off the bench, scoring 6 points in 8 minutes of action.

Kim English

The head coach of the Providence Friars.

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What they’re saying

“Early in the game, we wanted to go under his ball screens. (We) did it some early in the game, (but) didn't do a great job of it in the second half. Late in the game, we tried to blitz him, get the ball out of his hands, (and) did a really poor job of that as well. He was spectacular. I mean, he looked like Chris Paul.”

— Kim English, Providence Friars Head Coach

“I think he's understanding the mission, understanding what I've been preaching to him about making people follow you. He's not vocal, he's more follow by his actions, but I've been on him to be aggressive and don't let the game come to you. I think he's doing a better job of that now, understanding that as he goes, we go.”

— Shaheen Holloway, Seton Hall Head Coach

“He works hard in practice. We just have to keep instilling confidence in him. He came out there, and he did what he had to do today. I'm happy for him, for real.”

— A.J. Staton-McCray, Seton Hall Player

What’s next

Seton Hall will look to build on this win when they travel to Butler on Saturday, seeking revenge after a previous loss to the Bulldogs.

The takeaway

Budd Clark's dominant performance, along with key contributions from his supporting cast, kept Seton Hall's NCAA Tournament hopes alive and demonstrated the team's resilience in bouncing back from a tough loss. The Pirates will need to maintain this level of play down the stretch to secure a postseason berth.