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Seton Hall Dubbed March Madness Snub by CBB Fans amid NIT Title Win vs. Indiana State

Julia StumbaughApril 5, 2024

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 04: Ryan Conwell #3 of the Indiana State Sycamores drives through a pair of Seton Hall Pirates defenders during the second half of the NIT Finals game held at Hinkle Fieldhouse on April 4, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Jamie Sabau/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

The Seton Hall Pirates are NIT champions for the first time since 1953.

Senior guard/forward Dre Davis made a clutch layup Thursday night to seal Seton Hall's 79-77 NIT championship game victory over Indiana State.

NIT @NITMBB

DRE DAVIS FOR THE LEAD!!!!<a href="https://twitter.com/SetonHallMBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SetonHallMBB</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NIT2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NIT2024</a> <a href="https://t.co/jEBvg9kcsB">pic.twitter.com/jEBvg9kcsB</a>

It was part of a wild end to the game for Seton Hall:

SportsCenter @SportsCenter

WILD FINISH 😱<br><br>Seton Hall wins the NIT championship after going on a 9-0 run in the final minutes 👏 <a href="https://t.co/uQ1QTSLbxu">pic.twitter.com/uQ1QTSLbxu</a>

After heading into halftime tied 39-39, Seton Hall fell into a late deficit.

The Pirates then went on a nine-point run to finish the game, leading to senior Seton Hall guard Al-Amir Dawes tying the score at 77-77 with a three-point jump shot with just over one minute left.

After the win, Dawes was named the NIT MVP.

Jerry Carino @NJHoopsHaven

Al-Amir Dawes wins NIT most outstanding player. What a way to end his career.

The tight game between the two teams, as well as the highlight-reel plays in crunch time by Davis and Dawes, led fans to question why Seton Hall wasn't granted an NCAA tournament bid.

The snub was a surprise for the Pirates, who won six of their last seven games, made it to the Big East Tournament quarterfinals and ranked No. 32 in the NCAA's NET rankings before being listed as one of the "first four out" of the Round of 68.

Matt Norlander @MattNorlander

Simply undeniable that Seton Hall + Indiana St. would've made for a better NCAA Tournament. That's bid thief life, though, and I wouldn't trade a 69th team for it. Just tweak the process. Two really good teams that made this year's NIT feel as entertaining as it's been in years.

Seton Hall Dubbed March Madness Snub by CBB Fans amid NIT Title Win vs. Indiana State
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Zach Braziller @NYPost_Brazille

That was a great game. Two teams that should've made the tournament. Seton Hall wins NIT by closing with a 9-0 run.

Jon Rothstein @JonRothstein

Shaheen Holloway taught his team a very important lesson: You can't control what happens to you in life --- you can control how you respond.<br><br>Seton Hall wins a classic over Indiana State to win the Postseason NIT.<br><br>The Pirates belonged in the NCAA Tournament.

SOrangeJuice @SOrangeJuice

Seton Hall wins! <br><br>It wasn't the tournament we wanted or deserved, but it was the end result that this program needed. <br><br>NIT Champions. Hang that banner in Walsh. <br><br>Al-Amir Dawes has called it a career. 🏴‍☠️

Brad Wachtel @Brad_Wachtel

Any other season Seton Hall would have been in the NCAA Tourney with its credentials. <br><br>An NIT championship isn't a bad consolation prize. Great season for the Pirates. Easy team to root for.

Big East Vault @BigEastVault

🏆What a game. What a team. <br><br>Seton Hall is your 2024 NIT Champion. This team let their play do their talking on why they should have been in the tournament. Congrats to <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachSha10?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachSha10</a> and Seton Hall. <br><br>✔️ NIT Champions. <br>✔️ 20+ Win Season<br>✔️ 13 Big East Wins <a href="https://t.co/U7DJE7j3BW">pic.twitter.com/U7DJE7j3BW</a>

Curry Hogs Sage @CurryHicksSage

Seton Hall is really good. It's insane they didn't make the tournament. Like genuinely nuts.

Mister Hot Balls (Plural) ☄️☄️ @MisterHotBalls

Seton Hall wins the NIT and These two teams should never have been left out of the field. Glad they played and proved it.

The Pirates finished the season with a 25-12 record and an NIT crown for head coach Shaheen Holloway.

Holloway was hired as the program's head coach in March 2022 after leading No. 15 seed Saint Peter's on an upset-packed run to the NCAA tournament's Elite Eight.

Now Holloway will look to guide Seton Hall on a similar journey next season as the program fights for a ticket to the next Big Dance.

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