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Syracuse University
St. Bonaventure
Second Half Run Leads Orange Past Bonnies, 87-78
12/3/2003 10:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The #16/18 Syracuse men's basketball team used an 11-4 run at the beginning of the second half to take control of the game and went on to defeat St. Bonaventure, 87-78, at the Blue Cross Arena on Dec. 3
With the Orange leading 44-37 at halftime, junior #Craig Forth# opened the second frame with a field goal. St. Bonaventure's Yankuba Carmara answered with a bucket of his own. After sophomore #Billy Edelin# connected on back-to-back baskets and sophomore #Gerry McNamara# hit a two-pointer, the Bonnies' Saulius Dumbliauskas drilled a jumper, but three straight points by junior #Hakim Warrick# gave SU a 55-41 advantage with 14:36 left to play.
The Orange extended its lead to 17, 67-50, on a McNamara three at the 10:20 mark of the second half and led by as many as 21, 73-52, after McNamara connected on another triple with 7:41 left on the clock.
St. Bonaventure (2-2) got back into the game with three-pointers on three consecutive possessions and Ahmad Smith connected on a two-pointer to cut SU's lead to 10, 77-67 with 3:30 left. The Bonnies would get within nine three times in the last 2:31, but could not get any closer.
Syracuse (2-1) had four players score in double figures. Warrick led the way with 27 points. Edelin netted 20 points and had a personal-best five steals. McNamara scored 19 and junior #Josh Pace# hit for 11. Forth grabbed a career-best 12 rebounds and added a season-high eight points.
The Orangemen shot better than 50 percent from the floor for the first time this season, making 32-of-62 field goals (51.6 pct.) and never trailed in the game.
The Bonnies also had four players score in double figures on the night. Marques Green led the way with 27, while Ahmad Smith scored 17. Camara added 10 points to go along with a team-best nine rebounds and Parick Lottin went for 13 points off the bench.
The victory marked SU's 10th consecutive win versus the Bonnies and the Orangemen hold a 20-3 lead in the all-time series, including a 2-1 advantage when the two squads meet in Rochester.
The victory was the Orangemen's 22nd straight win against a team hailing from New York State. Syracuse has not lost to a New York school since a 76-75 loss to St. John's on Feb. 19, 2000.
The crowd of 11,650 was the largest crowd for an athletic event held at the Blue Cross Arena.
Syracuse will be back in action on Saturday, Dec. 13 when it hosts the Binghamton Bearcats at 7:00 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.
