NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Herb Pope had 12 points and 13 rebounds to lead Seton Hall past South Florida 64-55 in the Big East opener for both teams on Tuesday night.
Jeff Robinson scored 15 points and Jordan Theodore and Fuquan Edwin added 11 apiece as the Pirates (7-6, 1-0) won a Big East opener for the first time since defeating Rutgers to start conference play in the 2006-07 season.
Hugh Robertson scored 14 and Augustus Gilchrist contributed 12 points for South Florida (6-8, 0-1), which lost for the eighth time in nine meetings with Seton Hall.
Leading 27-26 with 18 minutes to play, Seton Hall outscored the Bulls 19-10 over the next eight minutes to seize control.
South Florida pulled within 52-48 with 5 minutes remaining, but Seton Hall pulled away from there. Pope, a 41.7 percent free-throw shooter entering the game, made all four of his free throws over the final 4 minutes.
