In a stunning turn of events, the Seton Hall Pirates suffered a narrow 57-56 defeat against the Fordham Rams in a game that left the Walsh Gym crowd in stunned silence. The loss marked the first time the Pirates had fallen to a non-conference opponent at Walsh since 1989, and it has raised questions about the team's readiness and the challenges they face in the early stages of the season.

A Missed Opportunity Amid Growing Pains

Offensive Struggles Continue to Plague the Pirates

Putting together a cohesive offense with 10 new players and just two returning starters has proven to be a significant challenge for the Pirates. The struggle of Providence transfer Garwey Dual to take control at the point guard position and the difficulty of Ohio State transfer Scotty Middleton to find his rhythm offensively have exacerbated the team's offensive woes. Additionally, the need to play Evansville transfer Yacine Toumi, a natural stretch four, at center for stretches caused the 6-foot-10 postgrad to foul out with a team-high 12 points in just 18 minutes of action.

Isaiah Coleman's Return Provides a Glimmer of Hope

After missing the season opener with a muscle strain, sophomore wing Isaiah Coleman made his return to the court, providing a much-needed boost for the Pirates. Coleman subbed in early and immediately made an impact, sinking a driving layup and playing solid defense. He finished the game with 7 points and 3 rebounds in 27 minutes, but missed a couple of open looks down the stretch that could have sealed the victory for Seton Hall. Holloway has emphasized the importance of retaining Coleman, who was the team's sixth man last season and earned Big East All-Freshman honors.

Gus Yalden Provides a Spark Off the Bench

Expectations were modest for the contributions of redshirt freshman Gus Yalden this season, as he transferred in from Wisconsin and dealt with injuries that limited his offseason workouts. However, Yalden made the most of his 10 minutes on the court, chipping in 6 points, 5 rebounds, and a block. The fan favorite revved up the crowd with his energy and hustle, and even gave an emphatic chest bump to freshman center Godswill Erheriene after a fast-break layup, showcasing the camaraderie within the team.

Fordham's Jersey Connection

The Fordham Rams, who opened the season with a 92-60 loss to St. John's, feature a strong New Jersey presence in their starting lineup. Bergen Catholic alums Matt Zona and Will Richardson start for the Rams, while Old Bridge native Joshua Rivera comes off the bench. Richardson, a Teaneck native, finished the game with 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists, and expressed the significance of having his family and friends in attendance to witness his performance.

A Heartbreaking Finish and Lessons to be Learned

The game came down to the final seconds, with Seton Hall holding a four-point lead. However, a series of costly mistakes, including missed free throws, a foul on a 3-point shooter, and a turnover, allowed Fordham's Jackie Johnson to hit a buzzer-beating floater to secure the victory. Head coach Shaheen Holloway acknowledged the team's struggles, stating, "We didn't lose the game today; we lost this game on Wednesday. We're not practicing well, we're not playing well right now. Sometimes you've got to lose to win. We've got to learn from this game."The loss marked the first time the Pirates had fallen in a guarantee game since 2013 and their first regular-season defeat to a non-conference opponent at Walsh Gym since 1989. While the defeat was a tough pill to swallow, Holloway and the team recognize the valuable lessons that can be learned from this experience, as they work to improve their performance and chemistry heading into the rest of the season.