McNamara Scores 29 Points in 86-73 Exhibition Win Against Saint Rose

Tuesday, November 1

Carrier Dome

7:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

Saint Rose (exhibition)

McNamara was a perfect 14-for-14 from the free-throw line.

McNamara Scores 29 Points in 86-73 Exhibition Win Against Saint Rose

11/1/2005 10:23:15 PM | Men's Basketball

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Senior guard Gerry McNamara (Scranton, Pa.) scored a game-high 29 points, including a perfect 14-for-14 performance from the free-throw line to help the Syracuse University men’s basketball team to an 86-73 victory against the College of Saint Rose in exhibition action at the Carrier Dome. It was the first of two exhibition games for the Orange, picked No. 16 in the preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll. On Thursday, Nov. 3, SU will host Le Moyne College at 7 p.m.

Syracuse jumped out to a quick 12-5 lead early in the first half and increased its margin to an 18-point lead (37-19) by the 2:41 mark when freshman guard Eric Devendorf (Bay City, Mich.) shook free from a defender to knock down a jump shot.

With 29 seconds remaining in the first half, Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim was called for a technical foul and then ejected from the contest for protesting an official’s call. The Golden Knights were able to chip the Orange lead down to 11 points (39-28) with three made free throws by Brad Shove, the Saint Rose player called upon to shoot the four free shots.

A layup by SU’s Josh Wright with 28.9 seconds left gave Syracuse a 41-28 halftime lead.

With associate head coach Bernie Fine manning the SU sideline in the second half, the Orange went ahead by as many as 21 points, 60-39, during the first five minutes of play. Junior center Darryl Watkins (Paterson, N.J.) scored eight of his 10 points during the stretch, while McNamara started things off with a three-pointer and three made free throws after being fouled while attempting another trey.

The Golden Knights owned the next five minutes of play, showing off their long-range shooting skills. Brad Shove canned two three-pointers, while Terrance King, Kevin Fowler and Will Monica all hit shots to bring Saint Rose to within 10 points (62-52) with 11:16 remaining in the contest.

Any hopes of a comeback were squelched by the Orange, who forced its way to the free-throw line during the course of the next three minutes. McNamara, freshman center Arinze Onuaku (Lanham, Md.) and junior guard Louie McCroskey (Bronx, N.Y.) were all sent to the line. After two made free throws by McNamara with 8:54 remaining, SU got out running and was able to hit McCroskey, McNamara and Wright for layups. The fast-break surge increased the Orange margin back to 20 points (77-57) with 8:08 on the clock.

Michael Epperson helped spark Saint Rose to another mini-run towards the end of the game. He tallied six of his 14 points in a stretch that brought the Golden Knights back to within 10 (83-73) with 1:47 remaining. King, Shanty Robinson and Clayton Longmire also contributed with baskets.

The last big play of the game was executed by McNamara. With seconds remaining, he was fouled by Shove on a three-point shot attempt. The ball drained through the net and he made his ensuing free throw to complete the four-point play.

In addition to his 29 points, McNamara posted six assists and five steals. Junior forward Demetris Nichols (Boston, Mass.) finished with 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Watkins had 10 points and nine blocked shots. As a team, the Orange made 23 of 29 free throws.

Leading the way for Saint Rose was Shove with 15 points (three three-pointers). Longmire made six-of-13 shots from the field for 12 points, while King added 11 points (five-for-eight shooting) and six assists.