A.J. Staton-McCray scores 18 to help Seton Hall beat Rutgers 81-59
AP
Dec 13, 2025
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) A.J. Staton-McCray scored 18 points and Seton Hall Pirates beat Rutgers Scarlet Knights 81-59 on Saturday night in the Garden State Hardwood Classic.
Adam Clark added 16 points for Seton Hall (10-1), which has won four straight and is off to its best start since 2011-12. Elijah Fisher and Najai Hines added 10 points apiece.
Harun Zrno scored 15 points to lead Rutgers (5-6). Dylan Grant added 12 points and six rebounds. Lino Mark had 10 points.
Seton Hall opened on an 11-0 run and built a 35-21 halftime lead. Staton-McCray scored 12 first-half points. Mark had eight to pace Rutgers, which shot 27% (6 of 22) in the first half.
Clark scored 14 points in the second half as the Pirates shot 64.5% (20 of 31).
It was the 76th meeting in the series. The Pirates have won 7 of 11 matchups since 2014. Seton Hall’s last win in the series was on Dec. 11, 2022, a 45-43 victory at Jersey
Mike’s Arena.
Seton Hall: At Providence on Friday in a Big East Conference opener.
Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights will look to end a three-game skid at home against Pennsylvania on Saturday.
--- Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
1st Half
RUTG
Scarlet Knights
21
HALL
Pirates
35
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
(Scarlet Knights gains possession)
19:41
Tariq Francis misses two point jump shot
19:39
Emmanuel Ogbole offensive rebound
19:33
Dylan Grant misses two point jump shot
19:31
AJ Staton-McCray defensive rebound
19:04
Elijah Fisher misses three point jump shot
19:02
Denis Badalau defensive rebound
19:02
Stephon Payne personal foul
18:53
Tariq Francis turnover (Adam Clark steals)
18:48
+2
AJ Staton-McCray makes two point layup (Adam Clark assists)
0-2
18:35
Tariq Francis turnover (Adam Clark steals)
18:31
+2
Adam Clark makes two point layup
0-4
18:22
Tariq Francis turnover (Adam Clark steals)
18:17
+2
Stephon Payne makes two point layup (Mike Williams assists)
0-6
18:17
Scarlet Knights 30 second timeout
18:13
Elijah Fisher personal foul
18:06
Emmanuel Ogbole offensive foul
18:06
Emmanuel Ogbole turnover (offensive foul)
17:50
Elijah Fisher turnover (Jamichael Davis steals)
17:46
Jamichael Davis turnover (AJ Staton-McCray steals)
17:42
Stephon Payne misses two point layup
17:40
Emmanuel Ogbole defensive rebound
17:18
Stephon Payne blocks Denis Badalau's two point layup
17:16
Stephon Payne defensive rebound
17:05
+2
Mike Williams makes two point jump shot
0-8
17:05
Denis Badalau shooting foul (Mike Williams draws the foul)
17:05
+1
Mike Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 1
0-9
16:57
Jamichael Davis turnover (Mike Williams steals)
16:54
+2
Mike Williams makes two point layup
0-11
16:43
Stephon Payne blocks Dylan Grant's two point layup
16:42
Elijah Fisher defensive rebound
16:42
Emmanuel Ogbole personal foul
16:22
Mike Williams turnover (Harun Zrno steals)
16:07
Harun Zrno misses three point jump shot
16:05
AJ Staton-McCray defensive rebound
15:37
Elijah Fisher misses two point layup
15:35
Emmanuel Ogbole defensive rebound
15:14
Dylan Grant misses two point layup
15:14
Emmanuel Ogbole offensive rebound
15:14
Adam Clark personal foul
15:14
TV timeout
14:59
Mike Williams shooting foul (Harun Zrno draws the foul)
14:59
Harun Zrno misses regular free throw 1 of 2
14:59
+1
Harun Zrno makes regular free throw 2 of 2
1-11
14:40
Adam Clark misses two point layup
14:38
Darren Buchanan Jr. defensive rebound
14:21
Darren Buchanan Jr. turnover (Elijah Fisher steals)
14:17
Jamichael Davis shooting foul (Elijah Fisher draws the foul)
14:17
+1
Elijah Fisher makes regular free throw 1 of 2
1-12
14:17
Elijah Fisher misses regular free throw 2 of 2
14:17
Darren Buchanan Jr. defensive rebound
13:51
+3
Harun Zrno makes three point jump shot (Jamichael Davis assists)
4-12
13:32
AJ Staton-McCray misses three point jump shot
13:30
Elijah Fisher offensive rebound
13:27
Bryce Dortch shooting foul (Elijah Fisher draws the foul)
13:27
Elijah Fisher misses regular free throw 1 of 2
13:27
+1
Elijah Fisher makes regular free throw 2 of 2
4-13
13:02
Darren Buchanan Jr. turnover (Trey Parker steals)
12:55
Trey Parker misses two point layup
12:53
Najai Hines offensive rebound
12:51
Najai Hines misses two point layup
12:49
Lino Mark defensive rebound
12:45
+2
Lino Mark makes two point layup
6-13
12:28
Mike Williams misses two point jump shot
12:26
Najai Hines offensive rebound
12:14
+2
Trey Parker makes two point jump shot
6-15
11:39
+2
Lino Mark makes two point layup
8-15
11:23
Trey Parker misses three point jump shot
11:21
Bryce Dortch defensive rebound
10:57
Jacob Dar blocks Darren Buchanan Jr.'s three point jump shot
10:55
Bryce Dortch offensive rebound
10:51
+2
Bryce Dortch makes two point layup
10-15
10:40
Jacob Dar turnover (Darren Buchanan Jr. steals)
10:35
+2
Darren Buchanan Jr. makes two point layup (Jamichael Davis assists)
12-15
10:35
Pirates 30 second timeout
10:35
TV timeout
10:15
Mike Williams misses two point jump shot
10:13
Dylan Grant defensive rebound
9:55
Jamichael Davis misses three point jump shot
9:53
Stephon Payne defensive rebound
9:30
+2
Elijah Fisher makes two point dunk (Adam Clark assists)
12-17
9:13
Stephon Payne shooting foul (Harun Zrno draws the foul)
9:13
+1
Harun Zrno makes technical free throw 1 of 2
13-17
9:13
+1
Harun Zrno makes regular free throw 2 of 2
14-17
8:57
Najai Hines offensive foul
8:57
Najai Hines turnover (offensive foul)
8:39
Baye Fall misses two point layup
8:37
Adam Clark defensive rebound
8:29
Dylan Grant personal foul
8:16
Baye Fall shooting foul (Najai Hines draws the foul)
8:16
Najai Hines misses regular free throw 1 of 2
8:16
+1
Najai Hines makes regular free throw 2 of 2
14-18
8:09
Jamichael Davis misses two point jump shot
8:07
AJ Staton-McCray defensive rebound
7:43
Tajuan Simpkins misses three point jump shot
7:41
Najai Hines offensive rebound
7:34
Tajuan Simpkins misses two point layup
7:32
Tajuan Simpkins offensive rebound
7:14
AJ Staton-McCray misses two point layup
7:12
Tariq Francis defensive rebound
7:12
TV timeout
6:55
+3
Harun Zrno makes three point jump shot (Tariq Francis assists)
17-18
6:39
+3
AJ Staton-McCray makes three point jump shot (Adam Clark assists)
17-21
6:17
Najai Hines blocks Gevonte Ware's two point layup
6:15
Trey Parker defensive rebound
6:09
AJ Staton-McCray misses three point jump shot
6:07
Darren Buchanan Jr. defensive rebound
5:50
Tariq Francis offensive foul
5:50
Tariq Francis turnover (offensive foul)
5:22
Elijah Fisher misses two point jump shot
5:21
Trey Parker offensive rebound
5:21
Pirates turnover (shot clock violation)
5:01
Gevonte Ware offensive foul
5:01
Gevonte Ware turnover (offensive foul)
4:46
Adam Clark turnover (Harun Zrno steals)
4:44
Harun Zrno turnover (Adam Clark steals)
4:44
+2
AJ Staton-McCray makes two point layup (Adam Clark assists)
17-23
4:44
Emmanuel Ogbole shooting foul (AJ Staton-McCray draws the foul)
4:44
+1
AJ Staton-McCray makes regular free throw 1 of 1
17-24
4:39
Bryce Dortch turnover
4:25
+2
Trey Parker makes two point jump shot (AJ Staton-McCray assists)
17-26
4:08
Harun Zrno misses three point jump shot
4:06
Scarlet Knights offensive rebound
3:57
Harun Zrno turnover (Tajuan Simpkins steals)
3:57
TV timeout
3:48
Trey Parker turnover (Lino Mark steals)
3:43
Najai Hines blocks Lino Mark's two point layup
3:41
Pirates defensive rebound
3:25
+2
AJ Staton-McCray makes two point layup (Adam Clark assists)
17-28
2:53
Najai Hines blocks Lino Mark's two point jump shot
2:51
Josh Rivera defensive rebound
2:47
+3
Tajuan Simpkins makes three point jump shot (Adam Clark assists)
17-31
2:21
Jamichael Davis misses two point jump shot
2:19
Josh Rivera defensive rebound
1:53
+2
Najai Hines makes two point layup (AJ Staton-McCray assists)
17-33
1:49
Scarlet Knights 30 second timeout
1:30
Josh Rivera shooting foul (Lino Mark draws the foul)
1:30
+1
Lino Mark makes regular free throw 1 of 2
18-33
1:30
+1
Lino Mark makes regular free throw 2 of 2
19-33
1:01
Adam Clark misses three point jump shot
0:58
Pirates turnover (shot clock violation)
0:45
Jamichael Davis misses two point layup
0:43
Tajuan Simpkins defensive rebound
0:26
+2
AJ Staton-McCray makes two point layup (Adam Clark assists)
19-35
0:07
Adam Clark shooting foul (Lino Mark draws the foul)
0:07
+1
Lino Mark makes regular free throw 1 of 2
20-35
0:07
+1
Lino Mark makes regular free throw 2 of 2
21-35
0:01
AJ Staton-McCray misses three point jump shot
0:00
Tajuan Simpkins offensive rebound
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
RUTG
Scarlet Knights
38
HALL
Pirates
46
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:34
+2
Adam Clark makes two point jump shot
21-37
19:22
+3
Harun Zrno makes three point jump shot (Lino Mark assists)
24-37
19:02
+2
Adam Clark makes two point jump shot
24-39
18:49
Jamichael Davis misses two point jump shot
18:47
Emmanuel Ogbole offensive rebound
18:40
Lino Mark misses two point jump shot
18:38
Dylan Grant offensive rebound
18:34
+2
Dylan Grant makes two point jump shot
26-39
18:21
Elijah Fisher offensive foul
18:21
Elijah Fisher turnover (offensive foul)
18:02
Jamichael Davis turnover (Stephon Payne steals)
17:57
Lino Mark personal foul
17:41
Mike Williams misses three point jump shot
17:39
Dylan Grant defensive rebound
17:35
Jamichael Davis turnover (AJ Staton-McCray steals)
17:20
AJ Staton-McCray turnover (Kaden Powers steals)
17:15
+2
Lino Mark makes two point layup (Kaden Powers assists)
28-39
16:47
Adam Clark misses two point jump shot
16:45
Scarlet Knights defensive rebound
16:30
Mike Williams shooting foul (Dylan Grant draws the foul)
16:30
+1
Dylan Grant makes regular free throw 1 of 2
29-39
16:30
Dylan Grant misses regular free throw 2 of 2
16:30
Stephon Payne defensive rebound
16:01
Elijah Fisher misses three point jump shot
15:59
Stephon Payne offensive rebound
15:56
Dylan Grant shooting foul (Stephon Payne draws the foul)
15:56
TV timeout
15:56
+1
Stephon Payne makes regular free throw 1 of 2
29-40
15:56
+1
Stephon Payne makes regular free throw 2 of 2
29-41
15:39
+2
Dylan Grant makes two point jump shot
31-41
15:17
Emmanuel Ogbole blocks AJ Staton-McCray's two point jump shot
15:15
Elijah Fisher offensive rebound
15:09
+2
Elijah Fisher makes two point layup
31-43
15:01
Dylan Grant misses two point layup
14:59
Stephon Payne defensive rebound
14:40
Stephon Payne misses two point layup
14:38
Elijah Fisher offensive rebound
14:30
Elijah Fisher misses two point jump shot
14:28
Dylan Grant defensive rebound
14:20
AJ Staton-McCray shooting foul (Emmanuel Ogbole draws the foul)
14:20
Emmanuel Ogbole misses regular free throw 1 of 2
14:20
+1
Emmanuel Ogbole makes regular free throw 2 of 2
32-43
13:52
Tajuan Simpkins turnover (Kaden Powers steals)
13:49
Trey Parker personal foul
13:24
Tariq Francis misses three point jump shot
13:22
Scarlet Knights offensive rebound
13:16
Josh Rivera shooting foul (Bryce Dortch draws the foul)
13:16
+1
Bryce Dortch makes regular free throw 1 of 2
33-43
13:16
+1
Bryce Dortch makes regular free throw 2 of 2
34-43
13:16
Kaden Powers personal foul
13:05
+2
Tajuan Simpkins makes two point dunk
34-45
12:51
+2
Bryce Dortch makes two point layup (Kaden Powers assists)
36-45
12:34
Trey Parker turnover (Darren Buchanan Jr. steals)
12:29
Darren Buchanan Jr. misses two point layup
12:27
Trey Parker defensive rebound
12:10
+2
Adam Clark makes two point layup
36-47
11:55
Harun Zrno misses three point jump shot
11:53
Najai Hines defensive rebound
11:38
Tajuan Simpkins turnover
11:38
TV timeout
11:25
Tariq Francis misses two point jump shot
11:23
Darren Buchanan Jr. offensive rebound
11:20
+3
Tariq Francis makes three point jump shot (Darren Buchanan Jr. assists)
39-47
10:54
+3
Adam Clark makes three point jump shot (Josh Rivera assists)
39-50
10:41
Najai Hines blocks Bryce Dortch's two point layup
10:39
Trey Parker defensive rebound
10:32
Najai Hines misses two point layup
10:30
Josh Rivera offensive rebound
10:28
+2
Josh Rivera makes two point jump shot
39-52
10:09
Harun Zrno turnover (Mike Williams steals)
10:04
+2
Najai Hines makes two point layup (Tajuan Simpkins assists)
39-54
9:51
Trey Parker personal foul
9:34
Darren Buchanan Jr. misses two point jump shot
9:32
Josh Rivera defensive rebound
9:29
Trey Parker misses two point dunk
9:27
Tajuan Simpkins offensive rebound
9:26
Tariq Francis personal foul
9:26
Tajuan Simpkins offensive foul
9:26
Tajuan Simpkins turnover (offensive foul)
9:04
+2
Kaden Powers makes two point jump shot
41-54
8:51
Darren Buchanan Jr. personal foul
8:44
Emmanuel Ogbole blocks Mike Williams's two point jump shot
8:42
Najai Hines offensive rebound
8:38
+2
Najai Hines makes two point layup
41-56
8:18
Josh Rivera shooting foul (Darren Buchanan Jr. draws the foul)
8:18
+1
Darren Buchanan Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
42-56
8:18
Darren Buchanan Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2
8:18
Darren Buchanan Jr. offensive rebound
8:14
Kaden Powers misses two point jump shot
8:12
Dylan Grant offensive rebound
8:09
+2
Dylan Grant makes two point layup
44-56
7:50
Tajuan Simpkins misses two point jump shot
7:48
Najai Hines offensive rebound
7:46
+2
Najai Hines makes two point layup
44-58
7:46
Emmanuel Ogbole shooting foul (Najai Hines draws the foul)
7:46
TV timeout
7:46
+1
Najai Hines makes regular free throw 1 of 1
44-59
7:39
Jamichael Davis turnover (Elijah Fisher steals)
7:34
+2
AJ Staton-McCray makes two point layup (Elijah Fisher assists)
44-61
7:15
Kaden Powers misses two point jump shot
7:13
Emmanuel Ogbole offensive rebound
7:12
Najai Hines shooting foul (Emmanuel Ogbole draws the foul)
7:12
+1
Emmanuel Ogbole makes regular free throw 1 of 2
45-61
7:12
+1
Emmanuel Ogbole makes regular free throw 2 of 2
46-61
6:51
AJ Staton-McCray misses two point jump shot
6:49
Darren Buchanan Jr. defensive rebound
6:41
Tariq Francis misses three point jump shot
6:39
Kaden Powers offensive rebound
6:36
Kaden Powers misses two point jump shot
6:35
Dylan Grant offensive rebound
6:35
+2
Dylan Grant makes two point jump shot
48-61
6:35
Scarlet Knights 30 second timeout
6:35
TV timeout
6:26
Tajuan Simpkins turnover
6:09
Kaden Powers misses two point layup
6:07
Elijah Fisher defensive rebound
5:50
+2
AJ Staton-McCray makes two point layup (Tajuan Simpkins assists)
48-63
5:36
Adam Clark shooting foul (Tariq Francis draws the foul)
5:36
Tariq Francis misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:36
+1
Tariq Francis makes regular free throw 2 of 2
49-63
5:24
+2
AJ Staton-McCray makes two point layup (Elijah Fisher assists)
49-65
5:08
Tariq Francis misses two point jump shot
5:06
Emmanuel Ogbole offensive rebound
5:03
+3
Harun Zrno makes three point jump shot (Emmanuel Ogbole assists)
52-65
4:35
+2
Adam Clark makes two point jump shot
52-67
4:17
Harun Zrno misses three point jump shot
4:15
Emmanuel Ogbole offensive rebound
4:11
Kaden Powers misses three point jump shot
4:09
AJ Staton-McCray defensive rebound
4:02
+2
Tajuan Simpkins makes two point layup
52-69
3:45
Tajuan Simpkins shooting foul (Tariq Francis draws the foul)
3:45
TV timeout
3:45
Tariq Francis misses regular free throw 1 of 2
3:45
Tariq Francis misses regular free throw 2 of 2
3:45
AJ Staton-McCray defensive rebound
3:21
+2
Elijah Fisher makes two point layup (AJ Staton-McCray assists)
52-71
2:58
Kaden Powers turnover
2:29
+2
Adam Clark makes two point layup
52-73
2:29
Tariq Francis shooting foul (Adam Clark draws the foul)
2:29
+1
Adam Clark makes regular free throw 1 of 1
52-74
2:14
+2
Darren Buchanan Jr. makes two point layup
54-74
1:43
+2
Elijah Fisher makes two point layup (Tajuan Simpkins assists)
54-76
1:30
Dylan Grant misses two point layup
1:28
Elijah Fisher defensive rebound
1:06
+2
Stephon Payne makes two point layup (Elijah Fisher assists)
54-78
0:53
+3
Dylan Grant makes three point jump shot (Darren Buchanan Jr. assists)
57-78
0:53
Scarlet Knights 60 second timeout
0:24
+3
Mike Williams makes three point jump shot (AJ Staton-McCray assists)
