Thursday, March 9
Madison Square Garden
12:00 p.m.
Syracuse University
86
at
84
BIG EAST Tournament vs. #1 Connecticut
Gerry McNamara posted a double-double with 17 points and 13 assists in the win against UConn.
Orange Upsets No. 1-Ranked Connecticut in Overtime, 86-84
3/9/2006 3:31:13 PM | Men's Basketball
NEW YORK - Syracuse ousted Connecticut (27-3) from the BIG EAST Conference Men’s Basketball Championship for the second-straight year, this time advancing to the semifinals of the 2006 tournament with an 86-84 overtime victory against the top-ranked Huskies, the nation's No. 1-ranked team and the tournament's No. 1 seed. It was just the second time in school history that the Orange knocked off the country’s No. 1 team. On Feb. 1, 1999, the Orange defeated then No. 1 Connecticut, 59-42, on the road.
For the second-consecutive game, all five SU starters were in double figures. Senior guard Gerry McNamara scored 17 points and dished out a career-high 13 assists. His 3-pointer with 5.6 seconds remaining in regulation tied the score at 74-74 and forced overtime.
Syracuse (21-11) will face Georgetown in the BIG EAST semifinals on Friday, March 10, at 7 p.m. ESPN will broadcast the game live.
SU never trailed in the game until Rashad Anderson drained a 3 from the left wing with 33 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Huskies a 72-71 advantage. With 11 seconds left, Denham Brown knocked down two free throws to increase UConn’s lead to 74-71. The Huskies called timeout and back on the floor, the Orange inbounded the ball to freshman guard Eric Devendorf who immediately found McNamara in the backcourt. SU’s first-team All-BIG EAST guard charged right for the top of the three-point arc and sank his third 3-pointer of the game to knot the contest up at 74 with 5.6 seconds left in regulation.
In overtime, UConn led 76-74 and 78-76 behind made free throws by Brown and Josh Boone.
Later, SU junior guard Louie McCroskey passed off to junior center Daryl Watkins in the lane. Watkins put the ball in the basket while being fouled by BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Hilton Armstrong. Watkins converted the three-point play, his second of the contest, to put Syracuse ahead, 79-78. The Orange never trailed again, but had to fight off a determined Husky squad, led by Brown who launched two long 3-pointers down the stretch. His three with 28.5 seconds remaining in the extra session pulled the Huskies within 83-81. He canned his fourth long ball of the game to inch UConn within a point, 85-84, with 18 seconds remaining.
McNamara was sent to the free throw line and made his first shot, but missed the second. A last-second shot attempt by UConn point guard Marcus Williams missed its mark and SU hung on for the victory.
Junior forward Demetris Nichols tallied 17 points, five rebounds and three steals. Terrence Roberts had 16 points and seven rebounds before fouling out with 5:09 remaining in regulation. Watkins finished with 14 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, while Devendorf chipped in with 13 points and three steals. McCroskey contributed on the glass with six rebounds and four points.
For Connecticut, Brown scored a team-high 20 points (4-of-8 from three-point range). Williams registered 17 points and 11 assists, while Armstrong recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out with 1:15 left in the game.
The Orange opened the contest with a 10-0 run and held leads of 22-12 and 24-14 in the first half before opening it up to an 11-point advantage (39-28) at halftime. SU scored the final nine points of the first half.
In the second half, Syracuse led by as many as 14 points, 49-35, at the 16:41 mark.
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