SU and Colgate Meet for the 156th Time on Monday Night
12/21/2003 12:37:02 PM | Men's Basketball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse and Colgate will hook up on the hardwood for the 156th time when the #19/21 Orangemen (5-1) host the Raiders (5-3) on Monday, Dec. 22 in the Carrier Dome.
Colgate is SU’s most frequent opponent and the Orangemen hold a 110-45 advantage in the series, including wins in the last 37 pairings. The last time the Raiders defeated the Orange was on Feb. 24, 1962.
The first meeting between the two schools came in SU’s second-ever basketball season in 1901-02. Syracuse won that matchup 33-8. Last season, the Orange posted a 30-point triumph, 98-68, versus the Raiders at the Carrier Dome on Dec. 3, 2002. Five Orangemen scored in double figures with Carmelo Anthony leading the way with 27 points. Kueth Duany added 21.
Syracuse has won five straight contests including a victory against its second straight MAAC opponent when it defeated Siena 74-61 on Dec. 20. Junior Craig Forth scored a career-high 14 points in the game and junior Hakim Warrick notched his second double-double of the campaign with 24 points and 10 rebounds.
It was the 658th victory for SU head coach Jim Boeheim. He passed Ralph Miller for 20th on the all-time NCAA Division I wins ledger. Boeheim is just six wins away from tying the legendary John Wooden for 19th on that list.
Warrick is leading the team in scoring at 20.3 points per game. He is also the club’s top rebounder at 8.5 boards per contest. Sophomore Gerry McNamara is averaging 16.2 points per game.
Colgate is 5-3 overall in 2003-04 and has won its last two outings. The Raiders beat Harvard, 78-60, on Dec. 12 and defeated Hobart, 97-67, at home on Dec. 20. The Raiders have four starters averaging in double-figures. Howard Blue is the club’s top scoring threat at 17.4 points per game and has been Colgate’s leading point producer in four of its eight matchups. Mark Linebaugh (13.5), Alvin Reed (12.9) and Andrew Zidar (10.0) are also averaging double-digit points. Zidar is the team’s leading rebounder at 6.9 rebounds per game.
The Raiders are an excellent free-throw shooting team having connected on 81 percent of their attempts this season (126-155).
Fans can listen to the game on the SU Radio Network. The pre-game show will begin 60 minutes prior to tip off on 1260 AM with the rest of the network joining the broadcast 30 minutes before game time. Fans can also listen to the contest live via the Internet at www.suathletics.com.
Time Warner Cable will broadcast the game on tape delay in the Syracuse area. The replay of the game will be on Tuesday, Dec. 23 at 7:00 p.m. on Channel 26.
Carrier Dome Gates A, B, C & E will open 90 minutes prior to the contest and before all home basketball contests in December. All gates will open 90 minutes before home encounters beginning in January.
