INDIANAPOLIS — Dre Davis scored with 16 seconds left Thursday night to cap Seton Hall's decisive late run to give the Pirates a 79-77 win over Indiana State and their first NIT championship since 1953.
Seton Hall (25-12) scored the final nine points in a battle of No. 1 seeds to pull away from a 77-70 deficit. Davis finished with 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 in their fifth win at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Coach Shaheen Holloway was named the Dawes' MVP as he had another successful postseason in Indianapolis. He led St. Peter's to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament two years ago with wins over Kentucky and Murray State.
Isaiah Swope scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half to lead the Sycamores (32-7), who fell one win short of their first national postseason title since the 1950 NAIA championship and one win short of the school's single-season record. Set by the 1978-79 NCAA Tournament champions led by Hall of Famer Larry Bird.
Julian Lowry had 18 points, a career-high four 3-pointers and six assists. Jason Kent and Robbie Avila each had 13 points.
Indiana State's rabid home-state crowd, dressed in the school's powder blue and alternate royal blue, was ready to celebrate when Swope's 3 Sycamores took a 77-70 lead with 2:50 left.
But Seton Hall started a shut-out the other way, tying the score on Davis' 3 with 57 seconds to go and taking the lead on Davis' layup.
Indiana State had three chances to win in the final 8.4 seconds, but Swope had two 3s blocked and Ryan Conwell's desperation 3 from 35 feet came up short.
“Friend of animals everywhere. Devoted analyst. Total alcohol scholar. Infuriatingly humble food trailblazer.”