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Syracuse University
at Rutgers
Last-MinuteThree-Pointer Beats Orange, 68-65
1/29/2003 8:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Herve Laminzana banked in a three-pointer from the top of the key with 15 seconds left to give Rutgers (9-9, 1-5 BIG EAST) a 68-65 victory over #24/--Syracuse (13-3, 4-1 BIG EAST) at the Louis Brown Athletic Center. The Orangemen had one final possession, but missed a three-point attempt at the buzzer.
The Orangemen overcame a 12-point second-half deficit to pull within four, 65-61 with 56 seconds left to play. Freshman #Gerry McNamara# sank a pair of free-thows to cut the lead to two, 65-63. After Syracuse forced Rutgers into a five-second violation, sophomore #Hakim Warrick# evened the score at 65 on a layup with 48 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession, Rutgers held the ball as the shot clock ran down, setting up Lamanzana's game-winner.
Freshman #Carmelo Anthony# led Syracuse with 17 points and moved into fourth all-time among freshman with 336 total points, passing Dale Shackleford (331). McNamara scored 12 points, while junior #Jeremy McNeil# chipped in 10 points, and blocked a career-high seven shots. Sophomore #Craig Forth# tallied eight points, and Warrick finished with 11 rebounds. It was Syracuse's fourth loss in its last five road games with Rutgers.
After trailing 5-0 early in the game, Syracuse went on a 9-3 run and took its first lead, 9-8, on a basket by McNamara with 10:38 remaining in the half. A basket by freshman #Billy Edelin# extended the Syracuse advantage to five, 18-13 with 6:52 left. Rutgers responded with a 14-3 run, capped by a three-pointer by Calvin Wooten, that gave the Scarlet Knights a 27-21 advantage with 3:37 left in the first frame. The Orangemen scored the last six points of the half to pull even, 27-27, at halftime.
With Rutgers leading 34-33 at the 15:49 mark of the second half, Jerome Coleman scored 11 straight points to give the Scarlet Knights a 45-35 lead with 13:38 left to play. After a basket by Lamanzana increased the lead to 12, 47-35, the Orangemen went on a 25-13 run. Anthony scored 10 points during the stretch to give the Orangemen a 60-58 with 4:24 remaining. Rutgers regained a five-point advantage, 65-60 setting the stage for the final minute.
Jerome Coleman scored 31 points, including five three-pointers to lead the Scarlet Knights offensively. Ricky Shields added 14 points, while Lamanzana finished with 11 points and 14 rebounds. It was Rutgers' first conference win this season.
The Orangemen will host #2/2 Pittsburgh at the Carrier Dome on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m.
