Xavier Musketeers Squander Lead, Fall to Seton Hall Pirates

Musketeers unable to hold 11-point halftime advantage, drop third straight Big East game

Jan. 28, 2026 at 8:55pm

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Despite a strong first-half performance led by leading scorer Nate Carroll, the Xavier Musketeers were unable to maintain their double-digit lead, falling 86-68 to the Seton Hall Pirates. The Musketeers coughed up a 14-0 run to start the second half, allowing Seton Hall to take control of the game and hand Xavier its third consecutive Big East loss.

Why it matters

The loss drops Xavier to 11-10 overall and 3-7 in Big East play, continuing a disappointing stretch where the Musketeers have been unable to close out close games. With a tough remaining schedule, Xavier is in danger of falling out of contention for postseason play if they cannot find a way to finish games.

The details

Xavier led 41-30 at halftime, but Seton Hall opened the second half on a 14-0 run to take the lead. The Pirates' backcourt duo of Tajuan Simpkins (27 points) and Adam Clark (24 points) combined for 37 second-half points to power the comeback. Xavier committed 19 turnovers that led to 24 Seton Hall points, and the Pirates dominated the offensive glass with 21 offensive rebounds.

  • Xavier led by 11 points at halftime, 41-30.
  • Seton Hall opened the second half on a 14-0 run to take a 44-41 lead.

The players

Nate Carroll

Xavier's leading scorer, who had 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting in the first half to help the Musketeers build their lead.

Tajuan Simpkins

Seton Hall guard who scored a game-high 27 points, including 37 combined second-half points with teammate Adam Clark.

Adam Clark

Seton Hall guard who scored 24 points, combining with Tajuan Simpkins for 37 second-half points to lead the Pirates' comeback.

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What’s next

Xavier will look to bounce back on the road against Creighton on February 1st as they try to keep their fading postseason hopes alive.

The takeaway

Xavier's inability to close out games has put them in a precarious position in the Big East standings, and they will need to find a way to finish strong if they want to keep their NCAA Tournament aspirations alive.