NEWARK, N.J. – Seton Hall tipped off the 2014-15 campaign with a solid 63-47 victory over Mercer on Sunday afternoon at the Prudential Center. It’s their fourth straight win in the season opener, with the last loss coming at Temple to start the 2010-11 season.
We start with a look at the possessions numbers, then Four Factors:
| Mercer | Seton Hall | |
| Possessions | 64 | 65 |
| Offensive efficiency | 73 | 97 |
| eFG | 40 | 47 |
| Free throw rate | 19 | 33 |
| OREB percentage | 35 | 28 |
| Turnover rate | 28 | 14 |
Pace was on the deliberate side numbers wise. Seton Hall did look to run if the opportunity presented and led 10-6 in transition points.
The Hall controlled three of the Four Factors, with offensive rebounding being the only area they came up short. They did a very impressive job of forcing Mercer into 18 turnovers and an extremely high 28 percent rate. The eFG of only 40 percent by Mercer is another testament to the Seton Hall defensive effort. The final score is deceptive, as for the most part it was a two- or three-possession game.
Midway through the second half, Mercer could have picked up ground. The Bears came up empty on four consecutive possessions, then a Brandon Mobley trey with just under fourteen minutes to play increased the Hall lead to 13 and Kevin Willard’s club was not threatened any time after.
The feeling regarding Mobley was he shot many fall-aways. He did not go vertical often or lean in to draw contact. Can’t argue with his results: a team-high 19 points on 7 of 9 shooting from the field (including an unblemished 4 for 4 from long distance).
Willard also praised the senior forward’s leadership. “He has taken on more of a leadership role and embraced it. Before he sounded like me, now he expresses himself in a way his teammates, especially the younger ones, can relate to.”
Highly regarded freshman Isaiah Whitehead of Seton Hall finished with two points on 1 of 10 shooting. Willard cautioned as freshman you will have days like this but Whitehead, a 6-4 freshman will have his moments. “He is a big time talent,” Willard said.
Angel Delgado a 6-8 freshman will have his moments as well for Seton Hall. Delgado pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds (five on the offensive board).
Mercer, who upset Seton Hall in double overtime last year in Georgia, was paced by Ike Nwamu with a game-high 20 points. A former Atlantic Sun member, Mercer has moved on to the Southern Conference.
