Syracuse University
vs. Vermont (NCAA Tournament)
SU Season Ends In 60-57, OT Loss To Vermont
3/18/2005 10:52:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SYRACUSE, NY -- The storied collegiate careers of SU seniors Craig Forth, Josh Pace and Hakim Warrick came to a stunning end when the Orange were upset by Vermont in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, 60-57 in overtime. Syracuse (27-7) and seeded fourth, made a first-game exit in the event for the first time since 1999 with the loss to 13th-seeded Vermont (25-6).
Warrick topped both clubs with 21 points and 12 rebounds, an effort that represented his fourth consecutive double-double and the 16th double-double of his senior season.
In addition to Warrick's effort, junior Gerry McNamara added 11 points and Pace had eight points, four rebounds and three assists. Vermont was led by Germain Mopa Njila's 20 points and nine boards. T.J. Sorrentine added 17 and Taylor Coppenrath tallied 16 for the Catamonts.
Vermont sent the game into an extra session when Coppenrath converted a jumper with 53 seconds remaining to tie the score, 51-51. Warrick was called for an offensive foul with 33 seconds left but the Orange forced a turnover in the final seconds of regulation. McNamara managed a desperation shot at the buzzer but it missed, sending the game into an extra session.
McNamara put the Orange ahead in overtime, 55-53, on a steal and layup at the 3:26 mark. Mopa Njila answered with a three-pointer with 1:49 left and SU never regained the lead. After Sorrintine's fifth three of the evening put the Catamonts up 59-55, Pace scored in the lane to narrow the gap to two, 59-57, with an even minute showing on the clock. Syracuse's Terrance Roberts rebounded a Sorrintine miss, giving SU the ball with 23 second left but the club's 24th turnover just eight seconds later ended the Orange's hopes. Martin Klimes made 1-of-2 from the line and McNamara's three with three ticks left missed its mark.
Although the Orange struggled offensive in the first half, its defense was outstanding, limit Vermont to the lowest point total (19) of an SU foe this season. Syracuse's zone defense held the Catamonts to 7-of-26 from the field (.269) in the first 20 minutes. At the other end, Vermont was causing problems and forced the Orange into 12 turnovers. Syracuse, paced by 11 from Warrick, led 23-19 at the break.Â
Forth's first basket of the game, less than two minutes into the second half, to give the Orange a four-point margin for the last time, 25-21. The Catamonts, dwn 27-24 after a Pace basket, went on a 11-2 run keyed by back-toback threes from Sorrentine and Mopa Njila.
Vermont clinged to its lead for ten minutes. A three-pointer from McNamara, his lone three of the evening, followed by Roberts' dunk with 5:20 left tied the game at 41-41. Vermont pushed the margin back up to four but the Orange tied it twice -- first at 45-45 on Warrick's tip-in and then at 47-47 following two free throws from Warrick. He gave Syracuse its first lead since the early minutes of the second half on a dunk at the 2:08 mark and then, after Mopa Njila tied the game, dunked again with 1:12 left in regulation to put SU up, 51-49, setting up Vermont's final comeback.
The 2004-05 Orange accumulated 27 victories, the fourth most in school history, and won the BIG EAST Conference Tournament Championship for the first time since 1992.
Warrick, the BIG EAST Conference Player of the Year and All-American, completed his career ranked fourth in SU scoring with 2,073 points after passing Sherman Douglas (2,060) during the game. Warrick's 1,025 rebounds put him fourth in Syracuse history.
Forth, who started every game of his collegiate career, played in his 136th contest with the Orange. Only Stephen Thompson (144), Derrick Coleman (143) and Sherman Douglas (138) played more and Forth equaled the output of former SU center Rony Seikaly at 136 games played. Warrick logged 135 games, now sixth on the SU ledger. Forth was Syracuse's first two-time Academic All-American.
Pace, the third team captain this season along with Forth and Warrick, played in 129 games at Syracuse and finished with 938 points.
