Xavier @ Seton Hall preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 2, 2019 ) Seton Hall 80, Xavier 70

Seton Hall is climbing its way back up the Big East standings and is currently in a tie for third place as it vies for a season sweep of visiting Xavier on Wednesday night. The Pirates had lost four in a row and five of six before bouncing back to rip off a three-game winning streak, sandwiching a pair of victories over Creighton around a rout of Georgetown.

The Pirates had lost five of six overall and five straight away from home before outlasting Creighton 81-75 on Sunday behind a combined 39 points from Myles Cale and Myles Powell. “We needed a road win, we really did,” Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard said. “Proud of this team. Proud of their effort.” The Musketeers also ended a four-game slide on the road with a dominant 75-61 win at Providence, the second straight game that they have allowed 61 points. Xavier will be looking to avenge an 80-70 home loss to the Pirates on Jan. 2 in which it held a 10-point second-half lead.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network

ABOUT XAVIER (13-13, 5-8 Big East): Forward Tyrique Jones was a non-factor in the first meeting with Seton Hall, managing only two points and one rebound in a season-low nine minutes, but he registered his fourth double-double in 10 games with 19 points and 12 boards at Providence. The 6-foot-9 Jones has worked well in tandem with 6-10 Zach Hankins, who scored 20 points on 10-of-13 shooting in the earlier matchup. Guard Paul Scruggs paced the Musketeers with 22 points against Seton Hall in early January, but he has more combined turnovers (10) than points (9) in the past two games.

ABOUT SETON HALL (16-9, 7-6): Powell came up one point shy of reaching 20 for the fifth straight game at Creighton and sparked the comeback against Xavier with a team-high 25 points to go along with six rebounds and eight assists. Guard Quincy McKnight, a transfer from Sacred Heart, came up big at both ends of the court as Seton Hall erased a six-point deficit in the final 4 1/2 minutes. McKnight not only scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half, but he became the ninth player in school history to make six steals in a game, including four down the stretch.

TIP-INS

1. Powell, averaging 21.6 points, also scored 30 at Xavier last season.

2. Xavier F Naji Marshall is averaging 19.7 points over the past three games.

3. Cale scored 37 points in last week's two victories.

PREDICTION: Seton Hall 78, Xavier 74