Warrick Leads Syracuse To 75-71 Victory At Providence

Saturday, January 15

Providence, RI

1:00 p.m.(CBS)

Syracuse University

Providence

Hakim Warrick

Warrick Leads Syracuse To 75-71 Victory At Providence

1/15/2005 4:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball

PROVIDENCE, RI – Player of the Year candidates Hakim Warrick recorded his eighth double-double of the season with 25 points and 12 rebounds, and Gerry McNamara sank three free throws in the final 10 seconds as #7/7 Syracuse (17-1, 4-0) extended its winning streak to 10 games with a 75-71 triumph against Providence (9-7, 0-3).

With the Orange leading 67-66 and 2:22 left on the clock, Josh Pace made it 69-66 with 1:22 left in the game, but Ryan Gomes rebounded DeSean White's missed jumper and made the putback. Pace again extended the lead to three points, driving to the basket before pulling up and hitting a one-hander with 26 seconds left. Dwight Brewington missed a three and Warrick got the rebound forcing Providence to foul McNamara with 9.4 seconds left.

After missing the first free throw, McNamara made the second extending the Orange's advantage to 72-68. Brewington was fouled on his way to the basket by Terrence Roberts, and completed the three-point play to cut the SU lead to one with 4.1 seconds left.

McNamara made two more free throws with 3.3 seconds left to make the score 74-71. White's inbounds pass was picked out of the air by Warrick, who made it 75-71 on a free throw in the closing second.

Syracuse took an early 10-2 advantage during the first five minutes of the contest. Brewington made Providence's first basket from the field at the 14:37 mark starting a 12-4 run for the Friars that tied the game, 14-14, with 9:46 remaining in the first half.

The score went back-and-forth during the next three and a half minutes until Louie McCroskey made a three-pointer to tie the score, 25-25, and start a 12-2 run for the Orange. Five points by Brewington and four points by White put the Friars ahead by one point with 1:16 to play in the first stanza. Warrick had three points in the closing minute for the Orange, and SU led at halftime, 37-35.

Syracuse used the first six minutes of the second half to extend its lead to 14, 54-40, which including a 10-0 run by the Orange. McNamara and Craig Forth each had six points during the run. McNamara's points came off two three-pointers bringing his career total to 246, three behind Preston Shumpert's school record 249 career threes.

The Friars slowing climbed back into contest. The Orange was ahead 63-53 was 7:38 to play when Providence used a 10-2 run to cut SU's advantage to two, 65-63, at the 3:23 mark. Forth went to the line and extended SU's lead to four, before White added three points for the Friars. The Orange was ahead by one, 67-66, with two minutes remaining in the game.

Pace finished with 14 points and five assists, while Forth finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. McNamara finished with 10 points and eight assists.

Warrick's 12 rebounds moved him into ninth on SU's career rebounds ledger with 888 rebounds.

Brewington led the Friars with 21 points and eight rebounds. BIG EAST Conference Preseason Player of the Year Gomes had 14 points and seven rebounds, while White had 14 points.

Syracuse returns to the Carrier Dome on Tuesday, January 18 when the Orange hosts Georgetown at 7:00 p.m.