Powell scores 24, surging Seton Hall beats Xavier 83-71
By JOE KAY - Jan. 08, 2020 11:04 PM EST
Seton Hall's Ike Obiagu (21) and Xavier's Zach Freemantle (32) battle for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Seton Hall's Ike Obiagu (21) and Xavier's Zach Freemantle (32) battle for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Xavier's Tyrique Jones dunks during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Seton Hall, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Seton Hall's Myles Powell, left, shoots against Xavier's Naji Marshall (13) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Seton Hall head coach Kevin Willard directs his players from the bench during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Xavier, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Xavier head coach Travis Steele reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Seton Hall, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Seton Hall's Quincy McKnight, left, steals the ball from Xavier's Quentin Goodin, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Xavier's Zach Freemantle (32) and Seton Hall's Myles Cale, left, scramble for a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
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CINCINNATI (AP) — Myles Powell scored 24 points Wednesday night, and Seton Hall remained undefeated in the Big East by beating Xavier 83-71, snapping the Musketeers' streak of 13 straight home wins.

The Pirates (11-4, 3-0) won their fifth in a row — their best streak of the season — and joined Providence atop the league at 3-0. Two of the Pirates' wins have come on the road.

Powell helped the Pirates pull ahead by 14 points in the first half and hold on. In his third game back from a concussion, Powell went 10 of 21 from the field and added a team-high nine rebounds.

Xavier (12-4, 1-2) couldn't get anything consistently on offense with Seton Hall's big front line misdirecting shots. Leading scorer Naji Marshall was limited to a pair of free throws in the first half and finished 3 of 10 from the field.

Tyrique Jones led Xavier with 19 points and nine rebounds. Paul Scruggs added 17 points.

In his last three games, Powell has scored 66 points while leading the Pirates on their surge to the top.

Powell hit a 3-pointer, a fadeway jumper and a pair of layups during a 21-5 run that put the Pirates up 30-17. The Musketeers missed seven consecutive shots and had five turnovers during the spurt.

The Pirates led 40-32 at halftime, the most points Xavier has allowed in an opening half this season. Seton Hall's pair of 7-foot-2 centers took away Xavier's drives to the basket — Ike Obiagu blocked three shots and Romaro Gill finished with five blocks.

Marshall made a 3 for his first basket, cutting the lead to 51-45, but Powell scored off a pair of drives to the basket as Seton Hall stretched the lead to 16 points midway through the second half.

Xavier made a late surge. Marshall made three free throws, and Quinten Goodin had a dunk off a turnover that cut the lead to 75-71 with 1:55 left. Gill had a dunk, a steal, a pair of free throws and a block as Seton Hall closed it out.

BIG PICTURE

Seton Hall: The Pirates were on the cusp of the Top 25 to start the week and embellished their credentials with a second straight win on Xavier's court. They also won at the Cintas Center last season, 80-70.

Xavier: The Musketeers fell to 1-1 in a streak of three straight Big East home games, which provided a chance to get an early edge in the league race.

UP NEXT

Seton Hall hosts Marquette on Saturday.

Xavier hosts Creighton on Saturday.

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More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top 25