Syracuse University
St. John's
SU Opens BIG EAST With Win, 79-65
1/5/2005 10:21:00 PM | Men's Basketball
NEW YORK, NY -- National Player of the Year candidates Hakim Warrick and Gerry McNamara had 22 and 19 points, respectively, to lead #6/7 Syracuse (14-1, 1-0) past host St. John's (6-5, 0-1) in the BIG EAST opener for both clubs at Madison Square Garden.
The victory extended Syracuse's winning streak against New York schools to 36 games. The Orange last lost to an Empire State institution on Feb. 19, 2000, when St. John's beat SU, 76-75.Â
Warrick tallied 14 of his 22 points in the second half. McNamara converted five-of-11 from the three-point line and accumulated 11 of his points after the break.
The win was the 690th for Coach Boeheim and moved him closer to an exclusive list of 17 Division I coaches with 700 career victories. Boeheim, the winningest coach in BIG EAST history, improved his all-time conference mark to 298-161.
The first half featured eight lead changes. The Red Storm led, 26-25, with 5:07 left in the first half, before the Orange responded with eight unanswered points. Layups from Warrick and Craig Forth were followed by a three from Demetris Nichols and Warrick's three-point play. SU entered the break with a 37-28 edge.
St. John's kept the game close until the second half. With SU ahead by eight, 51-43, the Orange scored 19 of the next 24 points. The run featured three three-pointers from McNamara.
McNamara moved into 33rd (1,218)Â on the SU all-time scoring list, passing Wendell Alexis (1,212).
Josh Pace finished with 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Louie McCroskey added 11 points and Forth had four points and four blocks to go along with seven rebounds.
Warrick and McNamara are both candidates for the Naismith Trophy and the Wooden Award. Warrick is on the Rupp Trophy watch list as well.
Syracuse hosts Seton Hall on Saturday, January 8, at 7:00 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.
