The New York Times-20080125-Seton Hall Ends 2-Year Big East Road Drought

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Seton Hall Ends 2-Year Big East Road Drought

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Brian Laing scored 22 points and Jamar Nutter had 19 as Seton Hall won its third consecutive game and earned its first Big East road victory in two years, 88-75, against Providence.

Weyinmi Efejuku had a game-high 23 points and Jeff Xavier had 16 for Providence (12-6, 3-3), which lost for the first time at home this season after eight victories. The Friars had a three-game league winning streak ended.

Larry Davis added 13 points for Seton Hall.

The Pirates (13-6, 3-3) trailed, 26-11, in the first half after making only 3 of 11 shots, then almost matched the Friars' rapid start with a 26-12 closing run in the final nine minutes of the half.

Providence led, 38-37, at halftime.

The Pirates took a 70-54 lead in the second half on a 21-6 run over six minutes. They made four 3-pointers, including two by Jeremy Hazell. The Pirates maintained at least a double-digit lead the rest of the way.

XAVIER 69, DAYTON 43 The Atlantic 10's long-awaited showdown came down to defense.

The senior guard Stanley Burrell scored 13 points and led a man-to-man defense that dug in from the opening tip and never let up, leading No. 23 Xavier t0 a victory against No. 16 Dayton in Cincinnati.

Xavier (16-4, 4-1) pushed the lead to double digits in the opening minutes and was never threatened in its most lopsided victory against Dayton (14-3, 2-2) in nine years.

In this league, the best defensive team usually wins, Dayton Coach Brian Gregory said. We've got to tighten up our defense quite a bit.

Dayton guard Brian Roberts, who averages 20 points a game, was 2 for 5 from the field with 5 points, a season low.

For the second time in their 145-game series, both teams were ranked. DUKE 81, VIRGINIA TECH 64 Kyle Singler scored 10 of his 16 points during an 18-9 run that gave No. 4 Duke (16-1, 4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) breathing room early in the second half of a victory at Virginia Tech (11-8, 2-3).

ARIZONA 76, WASHINGTON ST. 64 Host Arizona (13-6, 3-3 Pacific-10) was 12 for 21 from 3-point range in an upset of No. 6 Washington State (16-2, 4-2).

MICHIGAN ST. 78, NORTHWESTERN 62 Raymar Morgan scored 23 points as No. 10 Michigan State (17-2, 5-1 Big Ten) won at Northwestern (6-10, 0-6).

BUTLER 63, LOYOLA (CHICAGO) 50 The reserve forward Pete Campbell scored 15 points to lead No. 15 Butler (18-2, 7-2 Horizon League) past visiting Loyola of Chicago (6-13, 2-7).

WASHINGTON 72, ARIZONA ST. 61 Washington (12-7, 3-3 Pac-10) handed No. 24 Arizona State (14-4, 4-2) its first home loss of the season.

SACRED HEART 77, L.I.U. 76 Ryon Howard's put-back with 4.1 seconds left lifted Sacred Heart (10-10, 7-2 Northeast Conference) past visiting Long Island University (10-8, 2-5).

WAGNER 74, MOUNT ST. MARY'S 70 Wagner (13-5, 6-1) held off Mount St. Mary's (8-11, 4-4) and moved into a tie for first place in the Northeast Conference with Quinnipiac.

IN OTHER GAMES St. Francis of Pennsylvania (4-15, 2-6 NEC) won its first three-overtime game in team history, 92-84, against St. Francis of Brooklyn (5-15, 2-7). ... Lamar Johnson scored 23 points to lead Rider (14-6, 7-2 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) to a 93-80 victory against visiting Manhattan (8-11, 2-7). ... Jay Gavin scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half to lead Marist (13-7, 7-2 MAAC) to a 59-50 victory at Iona (7-14, 3-6).

Women

TENNESSEE 98, ARKANSAS 55 Angie Bjorklund and Candace Parker each scored 24 points and No. 2 Tennessee (17-1, 5-0 Southeastern Conference) tied a team record with 13 3-pointers in a rout of visiting Arkansas (16-4, 1-4).

L.S.U. 79, AUBURN 59 Sylvia Fowles had 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead No. 9 Louisiana State (15-3, 4-0 SEC) to a victory at No. 25 Auburn (13-6, 1-3).

DUKE 73, GEORGIA TECH 47 Chante Black had 16 points and 13 rebounds and No. 10 Duke (15-4, 4-1 A.C.C.) cruised to a victory at No. 23 Georgia Tech (16-4, 3-3).