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  Friday, Dec. 22 7:30pm ET
Griffin leads way for Seton Hall
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Eddie Griffin used his worst effort of the season as motivation against Wagner.

Griffin bounced back from his worst game of the season with 26 points, 17 rebounds, four blocks and four assists Friday night as Seton Hall (No. 11 ESPN/USA Today, No. 8 AP) beat Wagner 97-82.

Griffin, a 6-foot-9 freshman, was limited to 10 points Tuesday in a 75-58 loss to defending NCAA champion and second-ranked Michigan State. Against the smaller Seahawks, Griffin dominated and matched his season-high point total.

"I had some motivation from the last game," Griffin said. "We didn't do a good job and I feel we let coach (Tommy) Amaker down."

Wagner's uniforms were the same color as Michigan State's, but the similarity between the teams ended there.

"We knew their biggest starter was 6-5 and that we had to take advantage of that and go down low," Griffin said. "We had our way, it was much less physical."

Amaker was pleased with the way his team responded after being badly outrebounded, 60-39, by Michigan State.

"I thought our big guys, Eddie and Sam (Dalembert), really set the tone for us, "Amaker said. "The difference in the game was Griffin getting 17 rebounds. I think that's a huge statement by a kid we were all disappointed with in the last game. I think it says a lot about who he is."

Wagner scored the first three points of the game as Hall hit a free throw and Jeff Lauuder added a basket. Seton Hall countered with an 18-0 run.

"We just didn't hit our shots," Wagner coach Dereck Whittenberg said. "We needed to stop a run and step up defensively, and we didn't do that."

Wagner (4-5) stayed within striking distance and trailed 51-38 at the half. The Seahawks closed within 56-48 early in the second half on Dedrick Dye's 3-pointer.

Seton Hall scored 11 straight points, including five by Lane and two each by Marcus Toney-El, Shine and Dalembert, for a 67-48 lead with just over 12 minutes to play.

Dalembert added 16 points for the Pirates (7-2), who outrebounded Wagner 51-43. Darius Lane and Ty Shin each added 13. Jermaine Hall had 24 for Wagner.
 


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