strdp
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- J.R. Morris scored 17 points and John Allen added 12 to lead Seton Hall to an 82-45 victory over Liberty Saturday.
The victory was the third straight for Seton Hall (7-3), which was playing the first of three home games in the span of five days to start the New Year. Liberty, the defending Big South Conference champion, dropped to 2-9.
Seton Hall scored the first 10 points of the game over a 2:17 span and never looked back, with Grant Billmeier contributing four of those points. The sophomore Billmeier, starting his third consecutive game at center, responded with a career-high 10 points.
After Liberty closed to within six at 18-12, Seton Hall went on a 15-3 run to push the lead to 33-15 with 8:17 remaining in the half. Reserve guard Jamar Nutter scored five of his season-high seven points during that stretch.
Allen scored all 12 of his points in the first half, as the Pirates coasted to a 46-20 lead.
Morris got the Pirates going early in the second half with five straight points, including a long 3-pointer that pushed the lead to 53-23 with 17:17 left. The Pirates coasted from that point on, using many of their reserve players down the stretch, including Mani Messy, who scored a career-high 11 points, all in the second half.
