Warrick Leads SU to 72-55 Victory Against Albany

Tuesday, December 28

Syracuse, NY

7:00 p.m.(Time Warner) delayed

Syracuse University

Albany

Hakim Warrick

Warrick Leads SU to 72-55 Victory Against Albany

12/28/2004 9:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Hakim Warrick had 22 points and 14 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season and led #7/8 Syracuse (12-1) to a 72-55 victory against Albany (4-5) on Tuesday night in the Carrier Dome.

It is the fifth straight win for the Orange and improved its record against the Great Danes to 6-0 in the all-time series. The victory was also Syracuse's 34th straight against New York State foes.

The Orange set the tone early breaking to an 11-3 advantage and holding the Great Danes without a basket from the field for one six-minute stretch. A three-pointer from Louie McCroskey put the Orange ahead, 24-10, with 8:33 remaining. Levi Levine hit the first Albany trey of the night at the 8:14 mark, and a three-pointer from Lucious Jordan moved Albany to within 32-24 with 2:43 left in the first. It would be the closest the Great Danes would come the rest of the contest.

Warrick had 14 first-half points, 10 included from dunks. His three slams in the closing 3:43 of the stanza, including one at the buzzer, gave SU a 36-24 advantage at the half.

Syracuse had a 12-point advantage, 46-34, with 11:40 remaining in the game before the Orange made a 24-10 run in just over eight minutes to open up a 26-point lead, 70-44. During the run, Demetris Nichols had seven points in a 53-second span. Albany attempted to climb back into the game in the closing three minutes with an 11-2 run of its own, but the Orange would claim the 72-55 victory.

Syracuse's zone defense excelled again, limited Albany to 18-of-58 (.310) shooting, including a 6-for-25 (.240) effort on three-point attempts. The Orange also built a commanding 52-37 edge on the boards.

Senior Craig Forth had eight points and tied his season-high with eight rebounds. Junior Gerry McNamara finished with six points and three rebounds, while dishing out nine assists.

Nichols, after missing the last three games due to injury, came off the bench for the Orange and scored 10 points. McCroskey finished with nine points, four boards and a career-high three steals.

For Albany, Levi Levine had 15 points and eight rebounds to lead the Great Danes. Jamar Wilson had 14 points and Lucious Jordan had 10 points and seven rebounds.

Syracuse welcomes undefeated Hofstra into the Carrier Dome on Thursday, December 30 at 7:00 p.m.