INDIANAPOLIS — Dre Davis hit a layup with 16 seconds left to cap Seton Hall's decisive late run and give the Pirates a 79-77 win over Indiana State on Thursday night, their first since 1953. He won his first NIT championship.
Seton Hall (25-12) scored the final nine points in a battle of top seeds to erase a 77-70 deficit. Davis scored 18 points in his hometown of Indianapolis. Al Amir Dawes led the Pirates with 24 points and Kadary Richmond had 21 points and 13 rebounds for the Pirates, who won their fifth straight game at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Dawes was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player as coach Shaheen Holloway led Indianapolis to another postseason success. He returned to his alma mater two years ago after leading St. Peter's to wins over Kentucky State and Murray State and to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Isaiah Swope scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half to lead the Sycamores (32-7), but the school fell one win short of winning its first national postseason title since the 1950 NAIA Championship. The record, which was one win shy of the single-season record, was set by the 1978-1979 NCAA Tournament runners-up, led by Hall of Famer Larry Bird.
Julian Lalley had 18 points, a career-high four 3-pointers, and six assists. Jason Kent and Robbie Avila each scored 13 points.
Indiana State University's enthusiastic home crowd, mostly dressed in royal blue alternating with the school's powder blue, celebrates when Swope's 3-pointer gives the Sycamores a 77-70 lead with 2:50 left. I was ready.
But Seton Hall shut out the rest of the game, tying the game on Dawes' three-run run with 57 seconds left and taking the lead on Davis' layup.
Indiana State had three chances with 8.4 seconds remaining, but Swope had two blocked 3s and Ryan Conwell's desperate 3 from 35 feet fell short.