Box Score
CINCINNATI, OHIO -- Senior guard Gerry McNamara had his second-straight 25+ point game, this time with 29 points and six assists in Syracuse's 77-58 victory against Cincinnati at Fifth Third Arena. McNamara, who posted 25 points earlier this week in a win at Notre Dame, tallied 22 second-half points and was 5-of-9 from three-point range to lead the Orange to its second consecutive BIG EAST road victory and the team's 12th-straight win overall. SU brings a 15-2 record, and 3-0 conference mark into its Jan. 16th Big Monday home matchup against No. 4-ranked Connecticut (14-1, 2-1 BIG EAST). Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. at the Carrier Dome and the contest will be televised LIVE by ESPN.
McNamara surpassed Billy Owens on the Syracuse all-time scoring list and is now 11th with 1,842 career points. He is three points away from cracking the top 10.Â
The Orange trailed by as many as six points in the opening 20 minutes. Senior guard James White gave Cincinnati a 23-17 edge with his fourth basket of the night, a slashing drive and shot off the glass. He had a game-high 14 points in the first half.
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Syracuse took its first lead of the game, 25-24, with 5:28 remaining in the first half. McNamara corralled a wild pass and delivered it with two hands to a streaking Eric Devendorf who finished off a left-handed layup.
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Cincinnati got to the free-throw line three times in the final five minutes and led 34-31 with 16 seconds remaining before halftime, but junior forward Demetris Nichols drained a three pointer with one second left on the clock to tie the score at 34 as the two teams ran off the floor for the lockerrooms. McNamara assisted Nichols on the play.
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The Bearcats' Ronald Allen hit a three pointer to start the second half, but that would be their final lead of the night. SU rattled off 10-straight points to take a 44-37 lead. Nichols had six points during the run (three jumpers), while junior forward Terrence Roberts scored four points off a strong post move and a slam dunk.
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Jihad Muhammad knocked down the first of his two three pointers of the night with 8:15 remaining in the contest to pull Cincinnati to within six points, 57-51. SU responded with an 11-0 run to separate itself from the Bearcats by 17 points (68-51) with 5:21 left on the clock. McNamara registered seven points and an assist during the run, including a very deep three-point field goal.
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Freshman Arinze Onuaku and junior Louie McCroskey were important contributers off the bench, combining for 16 rebounds. Both played important minutes in place of starters Devendorf and Darryl Watkins, who were in foul trouble early. Onuaku scored six points and had eight rebounds, while McCroskey chipped in with five points and eight boards.Â
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Meanwhile, starters Nichols and Roberts each finished with a double-double. Nichols earned his off 18 points (11 in the second half) and a career-high tying 10 rebounds. Roberts was tough inside both offensively and defensively and finished the night with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
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Cincinnati was led in scoring by White, who finished the game with 16 points. The Bearcats, ranked No. 25 in this week's Associated Press poll, see their season record drop to 13-4, 2-2 in the BIG EAST.
