Syracuse Coasts Past St. Francis, 83-51

Friday, November 10

Carrier Dome

8:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

St. Francis (NY)

Junior guard Josh Wright had a career-high nine assists in his first career start

11/10/2006 10:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Coach Boeheim Quotes

SU Player Quotes

SYRACUSE, N.Y.--The #20/20 Syracuse Orange opened the 2006-07 regular season with a 83-51win against St. Francis in the first round of the BCA Invitational at the Carrier Dome on Friday, November 10. The win marks the 26th time in 27 seasons in the Carrier Dome that Syracuse has won its home-opener. The Orange (1-0) will face Penn (0-1) Saturday following the UTEP (1-0) vs. St. Francis (0-1) game, which tips off at 4:30 p.m.

Syracuse had contributions from all 11 players who saw action. Senior forward Demetris Nichols led all scorers with 15 points in just 21 minutes of work. Sophomore guard Eric Devendorf and freshman guard Paul Harris each scored in double-figures, with 12 and 10 points, respectively, and Harris added 11 boards in his collegiate debut. Junior guard Josh Wright scored 11 points and recorded a career-high nine assists in his first collegiate start. Senior center Darryl Watkins led the Orange with five blocks and five steals to go along with 11 points. The Orange had 13 blocks on the night, three shy of the school record, and 17 steals. Senior forward Terrence Roberts pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds, just one off his personal-best.

St. Francis went on top first on a jumper by guard Robert Hines, but the Orange tied the game when Roberts scored the first points of the campaign for the Orange with a layup. Syracuse took the lead for good when Nichols threw down a one-handed, fast-break dunk off a pass from Wright. At the 12-minute mark, the Orange hung to a two-point lead, 7-5.

Wright dished out two more assists to increase the Syracuse lead to six points. He stole an outlet pass and found Watkins in the paint for a layup and then threw an alley-oop pass to Nichols who brought the Orange fans to their feet with a two-handed slam dunk. Those plays were the beginning of a 13-0 run for the Orange to put it up 20-5.

St. Francis scored seven unanswered points late in the first half, but the Orange still had a double-digit lead at intermission, 30-17. The Terriers were only 7-for-32 (.219) from the field in the first half and committed 15 turnovers. Nichols led the Orange with nine points and Roberts chipped in seven points and 10 rebounds during the first 20 minutes.

Syracuse opened the second half with a 16-4 run to extend its lead to 46-21. The Orange made seven-consecutive field goals during that stretch, including three straight by Nichols. Syracuse shot over 63 percent in the second half (19-of-30) and led by as many as 35 points.

Hines led the Terriers with 14 points and three assists. Three St. Francis players had six rebounds apiece as the Terriers held tough with the Orange on the boards and were only outrebounded by three, 48-45.

Syracuse has now won both meetings with St. Francis (N.Y.)