NEWARK, N.J. – Jalen Gabbidon posted his first career double-double, but the Yale men's basketball team dropped an 80-44 decision to Seton Hall before a big crowd at the Prudential Center.
 
Gabbidon scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, both personal bests. Matthue Cotton (12 points) and Azar Swain (10) also scored in double figures.
 
The Pirates, who look poised to be serious contenders in the Big East, raced out to a 15-2 lead. Yale answered and closed to within 19-15 on a Jack Molloy three-pointer in transition midway through the first half. Seton Hall, though, quickly regained control with a 14-0 run.
 
"It was a frustrating game all-around," said James Jones, the Joel E. Smilow, Class of 1954 Head Coach of the Bulldogs. "[Seton Hall] did a great job defensively."
 
Yale (2-1) shot just 26.5 percent from the field after hitting better than 50 percent in its first two games.
 
The Pirates (2-0) also took advantage of their height advantage in the post, outrebounding the Bulldogs 53-37.
 
"Their length gave us a problem," Jones said.
 
Alexis Yetna led three Pirates in double figures with 15 points.
 
"This is the best learning experience we could have," Gabbidon said. "We know we are going get better."
 
Yale is back in action on Tuesday at Siena. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.
 
NOTES: Swain's 10 points give him 978 for his career… Two-time Ivy League Player of the Year Justin Sears '16, who helped lead the Bulldogs to an NCAA Tournament victory over Baylor, was in attendance. He is a New Jersey native… Cotton and first year Luke Kolaja are the Bulldogs on the roster from New Jersey. Kolaja hit a late three-pointer for his first career points.