Sold-out Dome Watches McNamara Score 29 Points on Senior Day

Sunday, March 5

Carrier Dome

12:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

#4/4 Villanova

G-Mac scored a game-high 29 points and had eight assists on Senior Day.

Sold-out Dome Watches McNamara Score 29 Points on Senior Day

3/5/2006 2:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score
SU Player Quotes
Derrick Coleman Quotes

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- An NCAA on-campus record crowd of 33,633 came out to recognize Syracuse senior guard Gerry McNamara, one of the school's most popular players, for his final regular-season home game against Villanova at the Carrier Dome. The fourth-ranked Wildcats won the game, 92-82, despite 29 points from McNamara. The senior sharpshooter, who owns the nation's longest active consecutive starts streak (130), became the BIG EAST Conference's career three-point field goal leader (183) with five made 3's. Syracuse University also retired Derrick Coleman's jersey at halftime.

Allan Ray was the high-scorer for Villanova with 28 points (7-of-14 FG, 6-of-10 3FG), while Randy Foye chipped in with 21 points, six assists and six rebounds. Kyle Lowry made himself a factor with 17 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals. The Wildcats matched their best conference victory total since joining the league in 1980 (14-2, 24-3 overall) and assured themselves at least a share of the BIG EAST regular-season crown with the win. Coach Jay Wright notched his 100^th triumph as Wildcat head coach.

Following an emotional, pre-game celebration in which a local elementary school chorus serenaded McNamara with "McNamara's Band," the Orange found itself down by 11 points to the Wildcats in the first half, 12-1 and 14-3. SU battled back to take an 18-17 lead when junior forward Demetris Nichols hit a pullup 15-foot jump shot from the top of the key with 10:30 remaining.

Syracuse (19-11, 7-9 BIG EAST) held a 32-28 advantage with 5:22 remaining in the first half, but Villanova scored the next 11 points, including six by Ray and five by Foye, to put the 'Cats ahead by seven, 39-32. The Orange never led again and was forced to play catch-up the rest of the game.

Lowry pulled up for a jump shot and made two free throws, while Chris Charles sank two foul shots of his own with 1:22 remaining to give Villanova a 45-35 lead.

Terrence Roberts scored a layup in transition off a feed from McNamara for the half's final basket with 33 seconds remaining. Villanova led 45-37 at intermission.

SU crept within four points, 65-61, following a Roberts' offensive rebound bucket halfway through the second half. The 'Cats pushed it back to nine following one of Mike Nardi's four 3-pointers of the afternoon. The Orange returned it to a four-point deficit, thanks to an Eric Devendorf free throw, his scoop shot in the lane and a transition basket by reserve forward Matt Gorman. With 6:58 remaining, SU trailed, 70-66.

Foye registered five of Villanova's next eight points, including a pull-up three at the 5:02 mark which increased the 'Cats lead to 78-67.

McNamara tallied 15 points in the final five minutes, including three 3-pointers which pulled the Orange to within five, 83-78, with 3:04 remaining.

Lowry, Foye and Ray combined to score Villanova's final nine points, seven of which came from the charity stripe.

Devendorf finished with 19 points for Syracuse. He was 6-of-15 from the floor, with three 3's. Roberts scored 13 points and pulled down seven boards. Center Darryl Watkins tallied eight points and eight rebounds before fouling out in 22 minutes of action.

Villanova has already secured a first or second seed and a first-round bye in the conference tournament which begins Wednesday, March 8, in New York. Syracuse finds out its seeding when the final BIG EAST Conference Tournament bracket is settled later on Sunday.