Seton Hall and Washington State are looking to bounce back from tough semifinal losses as they face off in the third-place game of the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii. Both teams suffered frustrating defeats after strong starts to the tournament, leaving them eager to end the competition on a high note.
Seton Hall's Near Miss
Seton Hall, after a remarkable turnaround from a 7-25 season, started strong with six consecutive wins, including a notable 85-74 victory over No. 23 North Carolina State. This win propelled them into a match against Southern California, where they ultimately fell short in an 83-81 heartbreaker.
Despite holding a 13-point lead in the first half and rallying from an eight-point deficit late in the game, the Pirates couldn't quite seal the victory. A jumper by AJ Staton-McCray tied the game with just over a minute remaining, but the team was ultimately undone by a significant free-throw disparity, with USC attempting 38 free throws to Seton Hall's 18.
"Tough, tough way to lose," said Pirates coach Shaheen Holloway. "Guys played hard, that's all you can ask for, gave ourselves a chance. Got to learn from it."
Key Players for the Pirates
Staton-McCray has been a standout performer for Seton Hall, following up a 22-point game with 17 points in the loss to USC. Adam Clark led the team with 18 points. However, the Pirates struggled on the boards, being outrebounded 35-21, and couldn't fully capitalize on USC's 16 turnovers.
Washington State's Scoring Outburst in Vain
Washington State (3-4) began the tournament with a 90-85 victory over Chaminade, fueled by Ace Glass III's 26 points off the bench. Glass earned a starting role for the first time in the subsequent game and exploded for a freshman-program-record 40 points. However, the Cougars were ultimately defeated by Arizona State 100-94, after allowing ASU to shoot an impressive 58.9% from the field.
Both Seton Hall and Washington State will be looking to put their semifinal disappointments behind them and finish the Maui Invitational with a victory.