By JILL PAINTER-LOPEZ
FULLERTON, Calif. (AP) — Myles Powell was just knocking down shots after his Seton Hall teammates kept finding ways to deliver the ball to him. He figured he was just doing his job, but it turned out to be a record-setting day.
Powell scored a career-high 40 points to lead Seton Hall to an 82-75 first-round win over Grand Canyon in the Wooden Legacy on Thursday night.
He tied the tournament record for points in regulation set by James Harden — the NBA’s reigning MVP — of Arizona State in 2008.
“He’s the MVP of the league,” Powell said of Harden. “When you say James Harden, that’s who a lot of kids look up to. Just to be put in that category with him is great.”
Ice in them veins, @Myles_MBP_23. #MPFor3️⃣ #HALLin pic.twitter.com/zjFxmVYB9c
— Seton Hall Basketball (@SetonHallMBB) November 23, 2018
Powell learned of the distinction with the Houston Rockets’ All-Star while watching Hawaii play Utah in Thursday’s finale of the tournament.
“Wow. First time I’ve heard that. Everything is a blessing,” Powell said. “I’m blessed to be in this situation. I’d like to thank my coaching staff and teammates for believing in me.”
Powell has plenty of work to do in order to have a similar beard, however. But he had a Harden-esque game-winning shot Thursday.
.@SetonHallMBB ‘s @Myles_MBP_23 had just the 15th 40-point game in school history last night. pic.twitter.com/lvkVThxoLG
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) November 23, 2018
Powell hit a 3-pointer from the top of the arc with 66 seconds left to give the Pirates (2-2) the lead for good at 76-75. Grand Canyon went 0 for 2 from the field with a turnover from there.
Damari Milstead scored 21 points and Alessandro Lever scored 20 points for Grand Canyon (3-2).
Powell, who set the tournament record by scoring 21 first-half points, made back-to-back baskets to give Seton Hall a 10-point lead with nine minutes to play. Lever answered with a 3-pointer and Michael Finke hit two more 3s during a 20-9 run that gave the Antelopes a 73-72 lead, their first since 2-0, with two minutes to go.
Myles proved to be the difference.
Photo: Kohjiro Kinno/ ESPN Events
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