By MIKE VORKUNOV
NEWARK, N.J. — Three days after suffering a flesh wound during an armed robbery-gone-bad in Harlem, Jeremy Hazell returned to the Seton Hall bench Tuesday night during their 64-55 win over South Florida.
Hazell was shot at four times on Christmas night as he ran down 104th St. attempting to escape four men who attacked him outside of his building. He was hit once and suffered a flesh wound on his side.
After missing Sunday’s game, he was back sitting on the Pirates bench and cheering on his teammates.
“Hazey is doing great,” said Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard, whose team improved to 7-6, 1-0 Big East heading into Friday’s New York’s Even tilt at Cincinnati.
“Unfortunately I’ve probably said this way too many times since I’ve been coaching but we’re just thankful he’s alive. He’s OK. Obviously he’s a little mentally shook up as anybody would be. But physically he’s one lucky guy.”
The 6-foot-5 Hazell, a preseason first-team All-Big East selection, has had an unlucky season thus far, both on and off the court.
He broke his left wrist in November, three games into the season. Willard said there is no guarantee he will come back this season, as he may opt to take a redshirt and return next season for his fifth year as a Pirate.
Before the injury, Hazell had a shot at setting the school’s all-time scoring record owned by Terry Dehere.
Though his team has sputtered without him, they found a way to win their Big East opener.
Jeff Robinson had a game high 15 points, while Herb Pope put a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Fuquan Edwin added 11 points, one of five Pirates in double-figures.
Unlike their previous two games, Seton Hall didn’t let a second half lead turn into a loss.
“We did what we were supposed to do at the end of the game,” said Willard. “We watched film after the Richmond game and we saw what we did right, what we did wrong. The guys have done a good job every time of coming back and trying to get better from it.”
(Photo courtesy Star-Ledger)
