Syracuse University
St. Bonaventure (NIT)
Shumpert Finds Range, Scores 28 In SU NIT Win
3/13/2002 11:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SYRACUSE, NY - Senior Preston Shumpert scored 22 of his 28 points in the second half to help lead Syracuse to a 76-66 victory against St. Bonaventure in the first round of the NIT in the Carrier Dome on Wednesday night.
The Orangemen (21-11) play the winner of Thursday night's Bowling Green-Butler game in second round action to be scheduled.
The Bonnies (17-13) stayed close to SU in the early stages of the first half, taking their first lead of the game, 17-16, at the 7:42 mark. After Syracuse tied the game at 23, freshman Hakim Warrick scored six of SU's next 10 points to push SU in front at the intermission, 33-26.
After missing all eight attempts from three-point range in the first half, SU rang off four in the early portion of the second stanza to take a 14-point lead, 51-37, with 12:31 left in the game. Marque Green hit a three for St. Bonaventure at the 4:54 mark to bring the Bonnies within seven, 61-54, and J.R. Bremer connected on a trey to stay in single digits of SU, 64-57. SU scored seven unanswered points to end the Bonnies threat and seal the win.
Warrick finished the game with 14 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high six blocks. Junior Kueth Duany added 12 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore James Thues scored nine points and dished out eight assists.
Bremer, the nation's fourth-ranked scorer, led St. Bonaventure with 29 points and Green followed with 19.
The victory halted a four-game Syracuse losing streak and represented the program's first NIT triumph since 1982.
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