Seton Hall turns defense into offense to upset No. 23 NC State in Maui

Field Level Media|published: Mon 24th November, 16:57 2025

Nov 13, 2025; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Seton Hall Pirates center Najai Hines (25) reacts during the second half against the Monmouth Fighting Scots at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

AJ Staton-McCray poured in 22 points and Seton Hall used a huge run early in the second half on the way to beating No. 23 North Carolina State 85-74 on the first day of the Maui Invitational on Monday in Lahaina, Hawaii.

Both teams entered the tournament with undefeated records, but the Pirates' offense was rolling while its defense racked up 11 steals and nine blocked shots.

Mike Williams cranked out 14 points, Elijah Fisher added 13 points and Adam Clark provided 10 points to go with five steals. Reserves Tajuan Simpkins (11 points) and Najai Hines (10 on 5-for-5 shooting) were key contributors off the Seton Hall bench.

Seton Hall (6-0) will meet the winner between Southern California and Boise State in Tuesday's semifinals, while NC State (4-1) will take on the loser in the consolation bracket.

Ven-Allen Lubin's 16 points and reserves Matt Able's 15 points paced the Wolfpack, who were playing away from home for the first time under first-year coach Will Wade.

NC State scoring leader Darrion Williams was in second-half foul trouble and finished with 12 points on 4-for-8 shooting while Tre Holloman chipped in 11 points. The Wolfpack went 8-for-24 on 3-point attempts.

Seton Hall was efficient for the most part, shooting 51.8% from the field and making 20 of 24 free-throw attempts. Staton-McCray went 7-for-11 from the floor and had a team-high eight rebounds.

The Pirates scored the first nine points of the second half as part of a 16-2 run to build a 51-35 lead, capped by two free throws apiece from Simpkins and Clark.

Trey Parker made an athletic steal along the sideline and took it the other way to feed Staton-McCray for a dunk that put Seton Hall ahead 67-51 with 7:41 to play.

After trailing by as many as 18 points, the Wolfpack climbed to within 69-60 when Darrion Williams connected on a 3. But Simpkins' 3-pointer made it 80-65 with less than four minutes remaining.

Seton Hall's first 12 points of the day came courtesy of four 3-point baskets, three by Mike Williams. The Pirates led 16-6 barely more than five minutes into the game.

NC State clawed back, and Lubin's dunk for the final points of the first half pulled the Wolfpack within 35-33 at the break.

Mike Williams had 11 first-half points for Seton Hall. NC State, which received 10 points from Able, shot 5-for-10 on free throws in the opening half.

--Field Level Media