Delgado’s 15 points, 18 rebounds lead No. 23 Seton Hall to win
NEWARK » Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard likes where his 23rd-ranked Pirates are entering Big East play.
“I think we’re excited about being 11-2,” Willard said Saturday after a 74-62 victory over Manhattan. “I think we’ve put ourselves in good position heading into the Big East.”
But Willard has a lot on his plate, namely the suspension of senior forward Ismael Sanogo before the game, the loss of sophomore guard Myles Powell to an ejection during the game and the near-loss of freshman guard Jordan Walker, who left the program and returned last Tuesday.
“I’m not a happy camper,” Willard said. “It’s been a tough week. You put time and effort into kids and you hope that you’re guiding them the right way. When it goes off the rail a little bit, it’s like a stab in the heart. I’m disappointed and sad. I’m not going to have a merry Christmas.”
Sanogo was suspended for something “off the court, not basketball-wise,” Willard said.
“I’m in no rush to bring him back,” Willard said. “You have to act in a certain way at this university. When you don’t, then it’s a big issue with me.”
Willard said that he had no real problem with Powell’s ejection. He left with 40 seconds remaining in the first half, along with Manhattan’s Rich Williams, after an altercation under the Manhattan basket, after scoring 13 points in the first half.
“Both teams were playing hard and aggressive,” Willard said. “Sometimes we have situations like this.”
Angel Delgado scored 15 points and grabbed 18 rebounds to lead the way for the Pirates. It was the ninth time this season and the 59th time in his career that Delgado reached double figures in both points and rebounds.
“We just came here and took care of business,” Delgado said. “The Big East are real games now. We have to play hard and be aggressive and get ready for Creighton (the Pirates’ next opponent Dec. 28).”
“I think Angel has been as consistent as any big man in the country,” Willard said. “He loves the physicality from other teams. He would much rather play against a team that is going to whack him because he gets to whack him back.”
Khadeen Carrington added 15 points and Desi Rodriguez scored 13 points, grabbed seven rebounds and had five assists, as the Pirates had all five starters score in double figures. Michael Nzei had 10 points and five rebounds for the winners.
The victory was the seventh in eight games for the Pirates (11-2).
The Jaspers (5-7) were led by Zane Waterman who had 18 points and Calvin Crawford who had 10.
Manhattan head coach Steve Masiello, who served as an assistant at Louisville with Willard for three seasons, gave his team credit for playing tough against the bigger Pirates.
“The first half was bit of a disappointment,” Masiello said. “But we battled hard in the second half. We need to clean up some things now that it’s down to conference play. But I’m very proud of the way we competed today.”
The Pirates put the game away with a 13-0 run in the first half, keyed by five straight points from Powell on a 3-pointer and a steal and thunderous slam and capped by Powell’s layup off a drive, giving the Pirates a 36-20 lead.
Rodriguez and Powell paced the Pirates with 13 points each at the half, with the Pirates holding a 49-27 lead.
Delgado scored on a dunk and a free throw that pushed the lead to 54-31 with 17:40 left.
Patrick Strzala hit two straight 3-pointers to bring the Jaspers within 74-56 with 2:52 remaining.
The Jaspers then scored four straight points with the Seton Hall starters on the bench to slice the lead to 74-60 with 2 minutes remaining.