Syracuse University
Michigan State
Pace Scores Career High as SU Defeats Michigan State, 96-83
1/3/2004 2:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Junior Josh Pace tallied a career-best 22 points as the #17/20 Orangemen (9-1) defeated Michigan State (5-6) in front of 25,869 fans at the Carrier Dome on Saturday.
Pace hit 10-of-12 field goals in the contest and was 2-of-4 from the foul line. He surpassed his previous career-best of 15 points, which he set in SU's season-opener against Charlotte. He also added eight rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block against the Spartans.
Sophomore #Billy Edelin# and junior #Hakim Warrick# also topped the 20-point plateau. Edelin finished with 22 and Warrick hit for 21, including nine points from the free-throw line. It was the first time SU has had three players with 20 or more points since the Orangemen played at Notre Dame on March 4, 2003.
Sophomore #Gerry McNamara# contributed 18 points and buried three three-pointers. He now has 118 triples in his career, which ranks eighth on SU's all-time list.
The Orangemen jumped on the Spartans early, scoring the first nine points of the game and building a 13-5 lead with 16:14 to go in the first half. Michigan State's Maurice Ager scored five consecutive points to pull the Spartans within four, 14-10. Back-to-back field goals by Pace and McNamara pushed SU's advantage back to eight points, 18-10, at 13:16. The two teams traded baskets for the rest of the first half and the Orange closed the first frame with leaner in the lane by Pace with less than a second remaining. The play was the result of a length-of-the-court inbounds pass from junior Craig Forth after a Michigan State turnover. The bucket gave SU a 10-point cushion, 44-34 at the half.
Syracuse started the second half like it started the first, scoring the first 11 points of period and extending its advantage to a game-high 21, 55-34, at 16:49. Michigan State fought back as Paul Davis netted the Spartans' first 10 points of the second half, cutting the Orange lead to 13. A three-pointer by Chris Hill made the score 70-61 with 8:25 remaining in the contest. The Orangemen weathered the storm as Warrick scored six straight SU points and senior #Ronneil Herron# connected on a pair free-throws to extend SU's margin to 14, 84-70, at 3:35. Syracuse hit 6-of-8 free throws in the final three minutes with McNamara making the last four to earn the 13-point triumph.
Paul Davis scored 21 points to lead the Spartans, including 14 points in the second half. Chris Hill went for 16 points, including four three-pointers. He also notched nine assists. Shannon Brown and Maurice Ager scored 15 and 14 points, respectively.
The Orangemen shot a season-best 60 percent from the floor (35-58) and forced 13 turnovers, while tying their season-low of eight. SU got 19 points off of the Spartans' miscues to 10 for Michigan State. Syracuse also held the advantage in fast-break points 14-4.
The win extended SU's winning streak to nine games,
Syracuse will open BIG EAST Conference play on Wednesday, Jan. 7 when it hosts St. John's at 7:00 p.m at the Dome.
