Syracuse University
Kent State
Five Players Reach Double Figures in 78-66 Win Against Kent State
12/30/2005 9:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Junior forward Terrence Roberts scored a game-high 21 points to go along with seven rebounds and four blocks as Syracuse (11-2) won its eighth-straight game in a 78-66 victory against Kent State (6-5) at the Carrier Dome. Roberts led five SU players in double figures, marking the first time that has happened since last year's season opener against Northern Colorado.
Kent State scored the game's first five points to take a 5-0 lead. The Orange tied it up at 7-7 after senior guard Gerry McNamara took a pass from Roberts and floated one in from the baseline with 14:56 remaining in the first half. Syracuse took its first lead of the night nearly three minutes later when Roberts found Nichols for a layup.
Freshman guard Eric Devendorf gave the Orange a 35-25 lead with 1:56 remaining when he finished off a nifty, left-handed drive.Â
Mike Scott hit an 18-foot jumper and a free throw and DeAndre Haynes scored off a jump stop in the lane with eight seconds left to pull the Golden Flashes to within 37-30 at halftime.
Haynes recorded 10 of his team-high 17 points in the first half for Kent State. Devendorf was the Orange's leading scorer in the first half with eight points.
The Golden Flashes got off to a strong start at the beginning of the second half by scoring the first six points to close within one point (37-36). A goaltending call went against Syracuse, Omni Smith hit two free throws and Haynes scored a layup all within the first two minutes of the period.
From there, SU went on a 10-0 run to increase its advantage to 47-36 by the 14:40 mark. Junior guard Louie McCroskey tallied six of his 14 points off the bench during the stretch, mostly by getting out in transition. The 14 points were the most for him since he netted a career-high 18 last February against Pittsburgh.
Kent was unable to get closer than nine points the rest of the way. With 6:15 remaining, Smith knocked down a jumper to bring the Flashes within 11 points, 64-53, but the Orange kept up its pressure.
The Golden Flashes committed seven fouls down the stretch and Syracuse made five-of-10 free throws, not to mention two dunks by Roberts in the final seven minutes. For the game, Roberts dunked the ball six times.
Devendorf finished with 16 points, four assists and four rebounds. McCroskey was 7-of-11 from the field and had four assists and four rebounds to go with his 14 points. Demetris Nichols scored 11 points and had five rebounds, while McNamara ended up with 10 points, 12 assists and three steals. He now sits alone in fourth place on the school's career steals list with 223. Coming into the game against Kent, McNamara was tied for fourth place with Dwayne "Pearl" Washington.
The inside game was working for the Orange, who outscored the Golden Flashes, 52-26, in the paint.Â
Syracuse (11-2) will next be in action on Wednesday, January 4, against Texas El Paso at 7 p.m.
.png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)
