newjerseynewsroom.com

WHEN: Saturday, March 6, 7 p.m., WHERE: Dunkin' Donuts Center — Providence, R.I., TV: ESPN360, RADIO: WABC 770 AM, WSOU 89.5 FM

SETON HALL NOTES: Seton Hall (17-11, 8-9 in Big East) completed their second straight season sweep of their arch in-state rival Rutgers with an 85-74 victory in Piscataway on Thursday. Two Pirates had double-doubles. Herb Pope had 22 points and 18 rebounds, while Jeff Robinson had 16 points and 14 rebounds. As a team, Seton Hall had a season-high 56 boards. The victory was the Pirates' eighth in conference play, the highest total under head coach Bobby Gonzalez. For the season, Jeremy Hazell leads the Pirates and ranks third in the conference with 21.3 points per game. Pope leads the Big East with 11.1 rebounds per game.

PROVIDENCE NOTES: Providence (12-17, 4-13) lost their ninth consecutive game in heart-breaking fashion Thursday night. Pittsburgh's Ashton Gibbs hit a three-pointer at the buzzer that turned what would have been a one-point victory into a two-point loss for the Friars. Jamine Peterson leads Providence with 19.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. The Friars are 8-9 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center this season.

THE SERIES: Seton Hall will resume one if its longest running rivalries when it travels to Providence on Saturday for the Big East regular season finale. This will be the 96th meeting all-time between the teams, second-most among all Seton Hall opponents (Villanova, 99). The Friars have a slim 45-40 edge in the series. Seton Hall has won three of their last four games at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. Last season, Providence beat the Pirates, 98-93, in overtime.

LAST 10 GAMES (Tied, 5-5)

Date: Score - Location

Jan. 22, 2009: Providence 98, SETON HALL 93 (ot) - Newark, N.J.

Jan. 24, 2008: SETON HALL 88, Providence 75 - Providence, R.I.

Jan. 17, 2007: SETON HALL 69, Providence 68 - East Rutherford, N.J.

Jan. 6, 2007: Providence 91, SETON HALL 69 - Providence, R.I.

Feb. 1, 2006: SETON HALL 77, Providence 74 - Providence, R.I.

Feb. 23, 2005: Providence 67, SETON HALL 54 - East Rutherford, N.J.

Feb. 1, 2004: SETON HALL 55, Providence 46 - Providence, R.I.

Jan, 12, 2004: Providence 63, SETON HALL 60 - East Rutherford, N.J.

March 8, 2003: Providence 64, SETON HALL 61 (ot) - Providence, R.I.

Jan. 3, 2001: SETON HALL 87, Providence 80 - East Rutherford, N.J.

AFTER PROVIDENCE: 2010 Big East Championship, March 9-13, 2010, Madison Square Garden, New York, N.Y.

Seton Hall will participate for the 30th time in the Big East Championship that begins on Tuesday, March 9 at Madison Square Garden. The Pirates are 20-27 all-time in this tournament and have won two titles (1991 & 1993). They're 9-10 all-time in first round games. Last season, Seton Hall won their first round game, a 68-54 victory over USF, but lost to Syracuse, 89-74, in the second round. The Pirates have not advanced past the second round since 2001. The Pirates can still be seeded anywhere between No. 8 and No. 12. Seton Hall and Providence are playing in the final game of the Big East season so final seedings will be known immediately following the game.

SOURCE: SETON HALL