Powell rallies Seton Hall for seventh straight win

CINCINNATI >> Myles Powell rallied Seton Hall from another double-digit deficit to a win that stamps the Pirates as a Big East contender.

Powell scored seven of his 25 points during Seton Hall’s closing run Wednesday night, hitting one clutch shot after another, as the Pirates rallied for their seventh straight win, 80-70 over Xavier.

“I know I’m the leader of this team,” said Powell, who was 9 of 15 from the field and added eight assists. “My guys are looking for me to lead them. We’ve been here. We’re battle tested.”

Powell’s 3-pointer started a 15-5 spurt that helped the Pirates (11-3, 2-0 Big East) overcome a 10-point deficit in the second half. The Pirates were coming off a 76-74 victory over previously unbeaten St. John’s on Saturday, when they overcame a 14-point deficit and won it with Shavar Reynolds’ 3-pointer in the final second.

“Myles is as good as any player in the country,” coach Kevin Willard said. “I loved the way he passed the basketball today. He is really starting to understand with all the attention he’s getting, there’s guys open and they’re going to make plays for him.”

Xavier (9-6, 1-1) led for most of the game but couldn’t hold on. Paul Scruggs had 22 points, and Zach Hankins added a season-high 20.

“We tend to beat ourselves a lot,” Hankins said. “Myles Powell is a great player in this league, but if we take care of the ball better, we make some better plays, I feel we come out with the W.”

Last season, the Musketeers prevailed in a high-scoring game at the Cintas Center, overcoming Powell’s 30 points for a 102-90 win .

Hankins had 18 points in the opening half, making his first eight shots and nine of 11 as the Pirates lost track of him near the basket.