SU and BYU Knotted at 42-42 in Denver
3/14/2004 7:49:22 PM | Men's Basketball
Complete Game Notes (.pdf)
Wednesday Press Conference Quotes
DENVER, Colo. -- Sophomore Gerry McNamara tied his personal-best with 28 points in the first half, including six three’s, tying the SU record for three-point field goals in an NCAA Tournament game as SU rallied to tie BYU, 42-42, at halftime at the Pepsi Center.
McNamara scored 28 points in the second half of SU’s season-opener versus Charlotte. The Syracuse record points in one half is 31 by Adrian Autry versus Missouri in the 1994 NCAA Tournament.
Freshman Demetris Nichols notched seven points in the first half and junior Hakim Warrick add four.
BYU connected on three consecutive three-pointers as the Cougars took a 9-7 lead at the 17:12 mark of first half. Nichols notched five of SU’s first seven points. After two treys by Mark Bigelow, BYU held a 15-12 edge. McNamara answered with a thee of his own to tie the score, but the Cougars’ Rafael Araujo converted a thee point play to reclaim a three-point advantage. Another three by McNamara knotted the score, 18-18, but BYU went on a 11-3 run to take 29-21 lead at 8:46. Luiz Lemis scored nine of BYU’s points in the spurt on three triples. With the Cougars ahead, 31-24, and 7:01 left in the first period, Araujo hit back-to-back layups to give BYU its largest lead of the half at 35-24. SU responded with 18-7 run over the last 5:24 to tie the game at the 42-42. McNamara scored 13 of the Orangemen’s points in the rally.
Mike Hall paced BYU in the first half with 13 points and Araujo added 12.
