Hayward scores 23 as Marquette wins third in row in OT, 84-83 over Seton Hall

Marquette goes to OT again, wins third straight

NEWARK, N.J. — Lazar Hayward scored 23 points and Marquette won its third straight overtime game with a 84-83 decision over Seton Hall on Sunday.

Jimmy Butler had five of his 13 points in the extra session and David Cubillan and Maurice Acker added four apiece as the Golden Eagles (19-9, 10-6 Big East) kept their hopes alive for a fourth-place finish in the league and a double bye in the conference tournament.

It was the 13th time this season Marquette was involved in a game that was decided by five points or fewer. Their record is 6-7 in those games, but the Golden Eagles have won the past five.

Marquette beat Cincinnati in OT last weekend and followed that with an overtime win over St. John’s on Wednesday.

The NCAA record for consecutive overtime games is four. Jacksonville went 3-1 in 1981-82, Dayton was 1-3 in 1987-88.

Cubillan and Darius Johnson-Odom finished with 16 points for Marquette, which has won eight of its past nine games.

Jeff Robinson had a career-high 25 points for Seton Hall (16-11, 7-9) and Jeremy Hazell had all 19 of his points in the second half, including three 3-pointers in the final 1:21 over overtime to give the Pirates a shot.

However, his game-tying 3-point attempt in the final seconds, hit off the backboard, went halfway down and rolled out. Herb Pope put in the rebound with less than a second left.

Marquette never trailed in the overtime as Cubillan hit a 3-pointer to get things going and Hayward, who hit his first four 3-pointers to start the game, added two free throws for a 74-69 lead.

The lead reached 78-71 when Butler added two more free throws with 1:42 to play in the extra session.

Hazell, who seemed to be bothered by a sore back much of the game, then got hot and hit three long-range shots, the last one turning into a four-point play when he was fouled by Johnson Odom with 25.2 seconds left, cutting the lead to 82-81.

Butler made the second of two free throws with 22.1 seconds left to stretch the lead to two points and Cubillan made the first of two free throws with 11 seconds left after Hazell missed another 3-pointer.

Hazell then barely missed tying the game as the Pirates’ six-game winning streak at home was snapped.

There were seven ties and four lead changes in the second half with Pirates senior guard Eugene Harvey forcing the final tie with 28.9 seconds left in regulation by hitting two free throws.

Hayward missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have given Marquette the win in regulation.

Jordan Theodore added 18 for Seton Hall, including all four of his 3-pointers in the second half.