Pirates Down Xavier to Earn 20th Win and BIG EAST Bye, 77-68

Led by strong second halves from Budd Clark and AJ Staton-McCray, the Seton Hall men's basketball team defeated the Xavier Musketeers.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The Seton Hall men's basketball team defeated the Xavier Musketeers 77-68 to clinch a first-round bye in the BIG EAST Tournament. The Pirates shot 54.8% from the field in the second half and outrebounded the Musketeers 37-30. Budd Clark led Seton Hall with 16 points, while Jacob Dar grabbed a season-high 8 rebounds. The win gives Seton Hall 20 victories on the season, the eighth time they've reached that mark since 2013-14.

Why it matters

This victory over Xavier marks the 33rd matchup all-time between the two programs, with Seton Hall now holding an 18-15 advantage. The win also gives the Pirates 20 victories on the season, tying them for the third-most in the BIG EAST over the past eight years. Seton Hall has now matched its largest win improvement from season-to-season, trailing only Miami for the biggest turnaround in the nation this year.

The details

Led by strong second halves from Budd Clark and AJ Staton-McCray, the Seton Hall men's basketball team defeated the Xavier Musketeers 77-68 inside the Cintas Center. The Pirates shot 54.8% from the field in the second half, scoring 20 points in the paint. Xavier committed 11 turnovers and lost the rebounding battle 37-30. Seton Hall closed the game on a 19-8 run to secure the victory.

  • The game was played on Tuesday night, March 3, 2026.

The players

Budd Clark

Led the Seton Hall team with 16 points.

AJ Staton-McCray

Had a strong second half performance for the Pirates.

Stephon Payne

Served as Seton Hall's early driving force, scoring 4 quick points and recording a steal in the opening stages of the game.

Tajaun Simpkins

Scored 10 points for the Pirates.

Mike Williams

Scored 10 points for Seton Hall.

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What’s next

The Pirates will look to close out the season on Friday, March 6, when they host the St. John's Red Storm on Senior Night inside the Prudential Center. The game will be broadcast on FS1 with opening tip slated for 9 p.m.

The takeaway

This victory over Xavier highlights Seton Hall's impressive turnaround this season, as the Pirates have matched their largest win improvement from year-to-year. With 20 wins and a first-round bye in the BIG EAST Tournament secured, Seton Hall has proven it can compete with the top teams in the conference and is poised for a strong postseason run.