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By TOM CANAVAN
AP Sports Writer
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Kelly Whitney scored the last nine points for Seton Hall to finish off a career-best, 27-point effort in leading the Pirates to an 82-78 win over St. Peter's on Saturday night.
J.R. Morris added a season-high 19 points and John Allen had a season-best 18 as the Pirates (4-2) beat St. Peter's (2-4) for the ninth straight time and the 18th in the last 19 meetings.
Keydren Clark, who led the nation in scoring last season, had a season-high 31 points, including 22 in the second half in rallying the Peacocks from a 14-point halftime deficit. Ron Yates had 19 points in his first appearance after being suspended for the first five games for violating team rules.
Clark, who was 15 of 16 from the free throw line, tied the game at 76 by hitting three free throws after being fouled behind the arc with 1:37 to play.
Whitney drove the right side of the lane on the Pirates' next possession and hit a layup for a 78-76 lead with 1:19 to play. He was fouled on the play but the center missed the free throw.
Clark, who also had nine turnovers, including four in the final 5:38, threw a bad pass on the ensuing possession. Whitney got the ball and stretched the lead to 80-76 with a fastbreak dunk with 47 seconds to go.
Corey Hinnant followed to a missed 3-pointer by Clark with 41.5 seconds to play to cut the lead to two points.
After nearing losing the ball out of bounds with four seconds to left on the shot clock, Andre Sweet got off a shot just before the shot clock sounded and Whitney tipped it in with :05 to go.
Seton Hall's defense and strength inside helped it take a 46-32 halftime lead.
However, Clark scored nine points in a 17-7 spurt to open the second half and the rest of the game was a fight.
After Seton Hall rebuilt its lead to 64-52, Clark scored eight straight points in a 13-2 spurt to get the Peacocks within 66-65.
Clark missed a free throw at the end of the run and Yates converted the rebound as an inadvertent horn sounded. Instead of getting the lead, the basket was nullified.
St. Peter's eventually took a 67-66 lead, but Pirates got the lead right back on a 3-point play by Allen and they never lost it again.
