Powell scores 27, leads No. 12 Seton Hall past Wagner 105-71

Posted November 05, 2019 6:00 am

By MATT SUGAM

Seton Hall guard Myles Powell (13) goes to the basket against Wagner guard Atiba Taylor during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in South Orange, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray) The Associated Press

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. (AP) - Myles Powell scored 27 points to lead No. 12 Seton Hall to a 105-71 win over Wagner on Tuesday night, without coach Kevin Willard on the sidelines.

Seton Hall announced a week ago that the NCAA is investigating the program and Willard would be sitting out two games. The school didn't say what the NCAA enforcement staff was investigating, but said it was working with the ruling body for college sports.

Quincy McKnight added 10 points and seven assists for Seton Hall.

Patrick Szpir led Wagner with 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Alex Morales finished with 13 points.

Seton Hall said Willard would miss the team's Oct. 29 exhibition and the Wagner game. Assistant coach Grant Billmeier ran the team in Willard's absence.

Wagner kept the game competitive for much of the first half. Then, Sandro Mamukelashvili, who finished with 11 points, scored on a feed from Anthony Nelson, and Shavor Reynolds followed a steal with a dunk to give Seton Hall a 46-35 lead with 1:41 remaining.

Seton Hall extended its lead to 52-37 and pushed its advantage to as many as 37 points with less than a minute remaining.

BIG PICTURE

Wagner: The Seawolves have been built into a solid program under seventh-year coach Bashir Mason. The two-time NEC Coach of the Year has won the NEC regular season title two of the last four seasons, resulting in NIT bids. Wagner lost in the NEC title game in 2016 and 2018.

Seton Hall: The Pirates are looking to reach the postseason for the fifth straight year behind the Big East Preseason Player of the Year in Powell. With 88 percent of their scoring returning from last season, the Pirates are ranked the highest in the AP poll since being No. 11 on Jan. 2, 2001, making this one of the most anticipated seasons in program history.

BLOCK PARTY

Big man Ike Obiagu had three blocks in his Seton Hall debut. The 7-foot-2 sophomore sat out last year after transferring from Florida State, where he averaged 2.1 blocks per game. He also had 11 points on 4-for-4 shooting and four rebounds.

UP NEXT

Wagner: At Penn State on Saturday.

Seton Hall: Hosts Stony Brook on Saturday.

___

More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

Seton Hall guard Myles Powell (13) takes a jump shot against Wagner Seahawks during an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in South Orange, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray) The Associated Press

Seton Hall guard Myles Powell (13) defends against Wagner guard Atiba Taylor (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in South Orange, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray) The Associated Press

Seton Hall guard Myles Powell (13) drives to the basket against Wagner forward Ja'Mier Fletcher (22) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in South Orange, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray) The Associated Press

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