McNamara's Game-Winning Three Sinks Cincinnati, 74-73

Wednesday, March 8

Madison Square Garden

12:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

BIG EAST Tournament vs. Cincinnati

Gerry McNamara led five SU starters in double figures against Cincinnati with 17 points.

McNamara's Game-Winning Three Sinks Cincinnati, 74-73

3/8/2006 3:08:02 PM | Men's Basketball

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NEW YORK -- Senior guard Gerry McNamara hit a three-pointer with .5 seconds remaining in the game to lift ninth-seeded Syracuse (20-11) to a 74-73 victory against No. 8 Cincinnati (19-12) in the first game of the 2006 BIG EAST Men's Basketball Championship at Madison Square Garden. The win advances the Orange into Thursday's quarterfinal round against top-seeded Connecticut (27-2, 14-2) at 12 p.m.

It was the 20th victory of the season for Syracuse, which marks the 28th time in Coach Jim Boeheim's 30-year career that the Orange has won 20 games.

SU led by as many as nine points in the first half and managed to build a 14-point lead with 15:44 remaining in the contest. Junior forward Terrence Roberts scored Syracuse’s first six points of the second half. He also set up classmate Darryl Watkins for a slam dunk which put the Orange ahead, 50-36.

Cincinnati senior forward James White, who netted a career-high 32 points, tallied 12 of the Bearcats next 24 points to pull UC within two points, 62-60, with 7:55 left to play. The Bearcats took a 67-66 lead with 3:39 remaining following a Devan Downey driving layup. It was UC’s first lead since 13:16 of the first half.

Freshman guard Eric Devendorf stole the ball and went in for a layup, only to have his missed shot tipped in by a trailing Demetris Nichols. The basket put SU back on top, 68-67.

White canned his fifth 3-pointer of the game from the left corner to give Cincinnati a 70-68 edge with 2:21 remaining. After a Bearcat timeout, Syracuse tied the score at 70 with a clear-out for Watkins along the left side. McNamara found Watkins for a wide-open slam dunk.

Roberts made one-of-two free throws with 30 seconds remaining to give the Orange a one-point lead, but the Bearcats responded 20 seconds later when two SU defenders went out to cover three-point threat Jihad Muhammad on the right wing. Muhammad found White open at the top of the key for a 15-foot jumper. Cincinnati led, 72-71, with 10 seconds on the clock.

Nichols turned the ball over on the Orange’s ensuing inbounds pass. Downey came up with the ball and was immediately fouled by Devendorf. The Cincinnati rookie guard made his first free throw, but missed the second, opening the door for Syracuse who trailed 73-71 with 8.3 seconds remaining. Muhammad fouled SU on the inbounds. With 6.2 seconds, the Orange inbounded the ball to McNamara from halfcourt.

McNamara drove middle, weaved through a couple defenders and went behind-his-back to free himself for the game-winning basket. After reviewing the play, officials ruled that McNamara did, in fact, take off from behind the three-point arc.

All five SU starters were in double figures. McNamara led the way with 17 points (five 3’s) and nine assists. His 92 three pointers this season ranks third on the school’s single-season 3-point field goals list. He owns the top three 3-point field goal season totals in school history.

Roberts ended up with 16 points and nine rebounds. Watkins recorded a career-high 15 points to go along with seven rebounds and four blocked shots, while Devendorf scored 12 points and Nichols added 10.

The four blocked shots moved Watkins into ninth place ahead of Danny Schayes on the Orange all-time blocks list (143).

For the game, Syracuse hit 50 percent of its three-point attempts (9-of-18). Conversely, the Orange held Cincinnati to a 6-of-24 performance from beyond the arc.

SU’s next opponent, Connecticut, is ranked No. 1 in the nation. It will be the third meeting between the two teams this season. The Huskies won both games – an 88-80 triumph against the Orange at the Carrier Dome on Jan. 16, and a 73-50 decision in Hartford.