Jeremy Hazell scored 23 points in his first game back since breaking his left wrist and less than three weeks after suffering a gunshot wound, leading Seton Hall to a 78-67 victory over DePaul on Wednesday night.
The Pirates (8-9, 2-3 Big East) got a lift from Hazell, who broke his wrist Nov. 19. While recuperating, Hazell was shot outside his New York City home on Christmas as someone tried to rob him. The senior was shot in the right armpit.
The Blue Demons (6-10, 0-4) were led by Cleveland Melvin's 21 points and nine rebounds. Brandon Young had 12 points. DePaul has lost 17 straight against Big East opponents.
After Herb Pope's three-point play opened the second half, Hazell's layup gave the Pirates a 37-31 lead. The closest DePaul got after that was 41-39, but Hazell answered with a three-point play.
Pope finished with 15 points for Seton Hall. Jordan Theodore added 10.
Hazell, a first-team preseason All-Big East selection, also had an alley-oop dunk to make it 77-60 with 2:17 left. He scored 15 points in the second half.
Leading 59-52, the Pirates broke the game open with a 10-1 run. Hazell's basket gave Seton Hall a 69-53 lead with 6:37 left.
He entered the game 4 minutes into the first half with a sleeve covering his left arm and wrist. He missed his first shot, a 3-pointer, but then sank a layup and made a 3-pointer to give Seton Hall an 11-6 lead. He scored eight points in the first half on 3-for-7 shooting.
Anali Okoloji made a pair of free throws to give the Pirates a 32-31 lead at the half. Melvin and Krys Faber led DePaul with seven points apiece in the first half.
