Syracuse University
RUTGERS
SU Beats Rutgers, 87-66, In BIG EAST Opener
1/2/2002 10:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SYRACUSE, NY -- Syracuse tied a school record with 22 steals as the 16th-ranked Orangemen defeated Rutgers, 87-66, in their BIG EAST opener at the Carrier Dome on Wednesday night. SU extended its record to 12-2 and 1-0 in the conference while the Scarlet Knights slipped to 9-4 and 0-1 in the BIG EAST.
Sophomore James Thues had a career-high nine steals and tied a personal best with eight assists. He also chipped in eight points. Senior Preston Shumpert led four Orangemen in double figures with 26 points.
Despite trailing, 7-0, at the start of the game and shooting 22 percent in the first 12 minutes of the half, Syracuse erupted on a 25-6 run midway through the opening period to set Rutgers back for the rest of the game.
After Thues made a free-throw to tie the game at 18 with 7:57 left in the first half, Shumpert hit back-to-back three pointers. Junior Kueth Duany followed with one of his three baskets from behind the arc and Shumpert and DeShaun Williams then completed the 13-1 run with consecutive dunks to give the Orange a 31-19 lead. SU allowed Rutgers to score only six points in the final eight minutes of the half as the Orangemen entered intermission ahead, 43-24.
The closest Rutgers came in the second half was 68-53 after Jerome Coleman hit consecutive three-pointers. Colemen was seven-of-11 from behind the arc and finished with a squad-best 26 points.
Duany and Williams joined Shumpert in double figures with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Duany also dished out a career-high five assists. Freshman Craig Forth recorded a career-high 10 points and tied a personal best with nine rebounds.
The Orangemen return to BIG EAST action on Saturday, Jan. 5 when they travel to Providence. Tipoff is at 2 p.m.
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