The Sports Xchange
Nov 10, 2017
NEWARK, N.J. -- Desi Rodriguez tossed in 17 points as No. 23 Seton Hall rolled to an opening-night 90-68 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson at the Prudential Center on Friday.
The Pirates own a 19-4 mark over their in-state rivals, having won 13 of the last 15 meetings.
The Knights were without standout guard Darian Anderson, who is day-to-day with a leg injury. Anderson is the active leader in scoring (1,326 points) in the Northeast Conference.
Fairleigh Dickinson was led by Mike Holloway and Darnell Edge, who scored 13 points apiece.
Angel Delgado recorded the 51st double-double of his career for Seton Hall, scoring 10 points to go with 10 rebounds. Khadeen Carrington, playing his first game at point guard for Seton Hall after playing off the ball in his first three seasons, had eight points, six assists and only one turnover.
Myles Cale added 12 points off the Seton Hall bench.
Seton Hall's 8-0 run increased its lead to 63-40 with 12:49 to play. Fairleigh Dickinson never got closer than 55-40 in the second half before the aforementioned Pirate burst.
The Pirates scored 15 points off Knights turnovers, leading to a 47-28 halftime advantage. Seton Hall dished out 12 assists on 16 baskets in the half.
Seton Hall used a 15-0 run over 2:29 to move ahead 31-17 with 8:20 left in the first half. Rodriguez contributed nine points in the sequence.
The Pirates took their first lead at 13-12 on a layup from Rodriguez with 13:20 left in the half. The Knights had led by as many as seven.
NOTES: Seton Hall C Angel Delgado and G Khadeen Carrington were named to the preseason All-Big East first team. ... The Pirates were picked to finish second to Villanova in the preseason Big East Conference coaches poll. ... Seton Hall returns 90 percent of its scoring and rebounding from last season's team. ... Fairleigh Dickinson assistant coach Bruce Hamburger was an assistant at Seton Hall for nine years.