NEWARK – For the first 20 minutes, this had all the markings of another stunning Seton Hall basketball loss to Monmouth – horrific shooting, lethargic defense, a dead atmosphere.

Except this isn't last year. The Pirates flipped the script in the second half, turning up the defense and rallying from a nine-point deficit to post a 70-58 victory at the Prudential Center Thursday.

If you’re looking for signs that this season won’t be a repeat of last winter's disaster, here was one: This group didn’t sulk and shrink after a bricklaying first half. Instead it hounded Monmouth, holding the Hawks to just 20 percent shooting after the break.

Seton Hall (4-0) now leads this series 16-1 after last year’s 63-51 banana peel. Junior point guard Budd Clark led the way with 13 points, six assists, fou

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