Syracuse University
vs. Oklahoma State<br>(NCAA Second Round)
Next SU Stop: Sweet 16!
3/23/2003 5:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Syracuse Coach and Player Quotes
BOSTON - Syracuse (26-5) turned around a second-half deficit for the 14th time this season and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament's "Sweet 16" after beating Oklahoma State, 68-56, at the Fleet Center in Boston. The Orange, who trailed by 17 in the first half and as many as seven after the intermission, advance to play Auburn on Friday, March 28, in Albany, N.Y.
With SU trailing 31-25 entering the second period, USBWA Freshman of the Year #Carmelo Anthony# (www.suathletics.com/carmelo) made his first field goal of the game 40 seconds out of the lockerroom to pull Syracuse within four, 31-27. After junior #Jeremy McNeil# connected on back-to-back baskets, freshman #Gerry McNamara# sparked a 9-3 run with a jump shot that made the score 36-33. McNamara finished the streak with a three-pointer to give SU its first lead of the game, 40-39, five minutes into the half. OSU regained a three-point edge with consecutive field goals, but Syracuse scored the next 10 points, including five by Anthony and another trifecta by McNamara, to go up 50-43. The Cowboys made a 7-4 push to pull within four, 50-54, but that was as close as they would get the remainder of the afternoon.
McNamara netted his third three-pointer to open up a 59-50 SU edge, and his fourth basket from beyond the arc gave Syracuse its first double-digit lead, 64-52, with two minutes left in the game. Sophomore #Hakim Warrick# capped SU's 14th second-half, come-from-behind win with a dunk in the final 30 seconds.
Syracuse head coach #Jim Boeheim# earned his 34th NCAA Tournament victory, tying him with former Georgetown mentor John Thompson for eighth on the all-time list. He is 34-21 for his career in the tournament, and 27-13 since 1987. The win was the 649th in Boeheim?s 27 years as the Orangemen?s head coach. Boeheim will take his 12th club to the Sweet 16 next weekend.
The Orange got a season-high 30 points from its bench in the win. Freshman #Billy Edelin# led SU with 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Sophomore #Josh Pace# contributed six points, all in the first half, and grabbed eight rebounds. McNeil added four points, seven boards and four blocks.
McNamara scored all 14 of his points in the second half, including his four three-point buckets. He also dished out six assists and had three steals. Anthony added 13 points, 11 of which came after the intermission, and eight rebounds, all on the defensive glass. Warrick was the fourth Orangeman scoring in double figures with 11, and he added six caroms.
Oklahoma State took advantage of eight Syracuse turnovers in the first nine minutes of the game to take an early 13-2 lead. Victor Williams scored five of OSU?s points in that run, and finished with a team-high 13. SU cut the Cowboys? lead to seven, 15-8, thanks to two layups by Edelin, but Oklahoma State scored nine straight points to take a 25-8, 17-point advantage with eight minutes left in the half. SU fought back with a 16-4 tear to cut OSU?s edge to six, 31-25, at halftime.
After Syracuse?s rough start, the team committed only nine turnovers in the last 31 minutes of the contest. Oklahoma State turned the ball over 22 times in the game, and the Orangemen capitalized with 17 points. The Orange shot 59.3 percent (16-of 27) in the second half after going 10-for-30 from the floor in the first. SU's freshmen, Edelin, Anthony and McNamara, combined for 47 of the Orangemen's 68 points (69.1 percent).
Syracuse is the fourth BIG EAST team to advance to the Sweet 16 as Connecticut, Notre Dame and Pittsburgh all defeated their second-round opponents. The BIG EAST is the only undefeated conference in this year's NCAA Tournament (8-0).
The Orangemen will play Auburn on Friday, March 28, at Albany?s Pepsi Arena.
