Syracuse University
Missouri
Forth Notches a Career-High 18 Points as SU Defeats Missouri, 82-68
1/12/2004 11:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Junior center #Craig Forth# tallied a career-best 18 points as the #17/19 Syracuse men's basketball team (12-1, 2-0) extended its winning streak to 12 games by defeating Missouri (6-6, 1-1), 82-68 at the Hearnes Center Monday night.
Forth shot 70 percent from the field (7-10) and made all four of his free-throw attempts in the contest. He surpassed his previous personal-best of 14 points, which he notched against Siena on Dec. 20.
The Orangemen have won their last 12 games since a season-opening loss to Charlotte on Nov. 26. It's the longest consecutive win streak for the Orange since SU began the 1999-00 campaign 19-0.
The win was the 665th for SU head coach #Jim Boeheim#. He claimed sole possession of 19th-place on the all-time Division I coaches' wins list, passing the great John Wooden.
Sophomore #Gerry McNamara# scored SU's first six points in the contest on two three-pointers as the Orangemen took an early four-point lead, 12-8. Missouri responded with an 8-0 run to take an four-point advantage of its own, 16-12, with 13:45 remaining in the first half. SU was 0-for-6 from the floor during the stretch, but a dunk by junior #Hakim Warrick# broke drought and a layup by Forth and another McNamara three had SU in front by one, 19-18 at the 11-minute mark. With Missouri leading 28-24, the Orangemen ended the half with a 14-4 scoring burst. Syracuse was 7-of-9 from the field during the stretch. Warrick and junior #Josh Pace# did most of the damage, combining for 12 of SU's 14 points in the run, including six straight by Warrick.
In the second half, the Orangemen used a 10-0 run to extend their margin to 13, 53-40 with 12:41 to play. Freshman #Louie McCroskey# began the streak with a trey and McNamara ended it by converting a three-point play after he was fouled making a layup. After a Linas Kleiza basket stopped the run for Missouri, the Orangemen scored the next six points to gain their biggest lead, 59-42 at 11:30. The Tigers were able to cut the lead to 10 on a Jimmy McKinney three with five minutes to play. A pair of McKinney free-throws had the Tigers within eight at the 3:50 mark, but the Tigers could not get any closer. SU hit 13-of-16 free-throws in the final 3:35 to earn the 14-point victory.
Warrick posted his fourth double-double of the year, notching 21 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. He now has 988 points in his career, 12 shy of becoming 46th Orangemen to net 1,000 career points. McNamara contributed 17 points and Pace added 15. It was the seventh time this season Syracuse has had at least four players score in double digits.
Missouri's Rickey Paulding led all scorers with 25 points and McKinney added 12 for the Tigers.
Syracuse made a season-best 80 percent of its free-throws in the contest (24-30).
It was the sixth straight win for SU against Big 12 opponents. The Orangemen have not lost to a Big 12 foe since an 87-58 defeat at the hands of Kansas in the 2001 NCAA Tournament.
The Orangemen will play at Notre Dame on Saturday, January 17. Tip-off is at 6:00 p.m. The matchup will be televised live on ESPN2.
