Creighton Men's Basketball Drops Nailbiter at Seton Hall

NEWARK, N.J. -- Najai Hines' three-point play with 1.3 seconds left capped a 16-point comeback as Seton Hall stunned visiting Creighton, 56-54, on Sunday, Jan. 4.

Creighton (9-6, 3-1 BIG EAST) led for all but three minutes in the game, but a late charge from the host Pirates was too much for CU in the end.

Creighton took a 27-18 lead into the locker room following a first half that was heavy on defense. The Bluejays built a lead as large as 20-11 before Seton Hall countered with a 7-0 run. The Jays then scored the final seven points before the intermission. Josh Dix had 10 points and five rebounds at the half, while Austin Swartz added eight points. Seton Hall shot 26.9 percent before the break but forced just four turnovers as point guard Adam "Budd" Clark got two early fouls and was limited to nine minutes before the break.

Seton Hall (13-2, 3-1 BIG EAST) scored the first five points of the second half to close within 27-23, only to have the Bluejays unleash a 14-2 run to move in front 41-25. Swartz had eight of those Bluejay points.

Seton Hall forced four turnovers in just over two minutes to get back into the game as part of an 13-0 run to trim CU's lead to 45-43 and bring the Prudential Center crowd to its feet with each ensuing stop. CU went more than eight minutes without a basket until Dix fed Green for a lay-up at the 5:58 mark. The Pirates closed to within two points at 45-43, 47-45, 49-47 and 51-49 but Creighton held off the challenge time-after-time. Two free throws by Nik Graves with 2:21 left gave the Jays a 53-49 lead, but the Pirates made two foul shots by Hines with 1:42 to go to draw back within 53-51.

The teams traded empty possessions before Graves returned to the line with 36.1 seconds left for a 1-and-1. The senior made the first one to put CU up 54-51, but Seton Hall got the rebound. Josh Rivera put down a dunk with 22.6 left as Seton Hall got within one point (54-53).

Seton Hall forced tie-ups with 13.4 and 10.8 seconds to play to get the ball back and set up one final offensive possession. Clark pulled up for a contested jumper that rimmed out, but Hines was there for the putback with 1.3 seconds left. Hines was also fouled on the play and made the free throw. 

Creighton had one final chance, inbounding the ball from midcourt with 1.0 left, but Seton Hall stole the pass before CU could get off a last-second shot.

Swartz led Creighton with 16 points, while Green had 13 and Dix finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. CU shot 34.5 percent for the game but were 6-for-27 from three-point range. CU won the rebound battle 41-34.

Seton Hall got 10 points by Elijah Fisher. The Pirates shot 35.8 percent for the game and were just 2-of-7 from three-point range.

Creighton returns to action on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Central when it visits Villanova (12-2, 3-0 BIG EAST).