Orange Unable To Hold On Against Louisville In Boeheim's 1,000th Game

Saturday, January 27

Louisville, KY

7:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

Louisville

Jim Boeheim became the 22nd head coach to reach 1,000 games

Orange Unable To Hold On Against Louisville In Boeheim's 1,000th Game

1/27/2007 9:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Louisville, Ky.- Syracuse (15-6, 4-3) lost a BIG EAST road contest to Louisville (15-6, 4-3), 76-71, in Jim Boeheim's 1,000th career game. Boeheim became the 22nd head coach to reach the 1,000 game milestone and only the seventh to do so at one school. He is one of only five active coaches in the exclusive club, joining Bob Knight, Jim Calhoun, Lute Olson and Mike Krzyzewski, and his career record is now 741-259. Associate head coach Bernie Fine shares in the milestone, having served alongside Boeheim every season.

Syracuse led the majority of the game, but Louisville used a 24-4 run in the final 10 minutes for the comeback victory. Syracuse was held without a field goal for a 9:39 span, managing only four free throws during that stretch.

Eric Devendorf, Terrence Roberts, and Demetris Nichols all scored in double-figures and had 49 of Syracuse's 71 points. Devendorf led the Orange with 18 points and had a career-high nine rebounds. Roberts added 16 points and was one rebound shy of his fourth-consecutive double-double with nine rebounds. Nichols chipped in 15 points and six rebounds. Darryl Watkins had nine points, eight rebounds and three blocks ans Paul Harris pulled down seven boards.

Syracuse scored the game's first six points and maintained at least a three-point edge for the first ten minutes of the game as five different players scored. Back-to-back three-pointers gave the Cardinals their first lead of the game, 20-19. The Orange then went on a 7-0 run to go back up by five, 25-20, with 7:18 left in the first half.

The action picked up as the teams combined for 35 points in the final seven minutes. They traded three-pointers in the final minute and the Orange held on to the lead at halftime, 42-38. Syracuse held a distinct advantage at the free throw line, making 15-of-20 from the charity stripe, as opposed to 8-of-11 for Louisville. Devendorf and Roberts each had 11 first half points and Nichols added 10 of his own to pace the Orange offense. Both teams were marred with inconsistent play in the opening period. Syracuse committed 15 turnovers and Louisville was 4-of-17 from three-point range.

Early in the second half with the game tied at 43, Syracuse capitalized on a four minute span when Louisville went without a field goal with a 17-6 run to stretch its lead to double-digits for the first time, 60-49, with 13 minutes left in the game. Devendorf, Nichols and Andy Rautins each had five points during that stretch.

The Syracuse lead got as big as 14 points, but Louisville went on a 13-1 run to pull within two, 66-64, with just over four minutes remaining. Roberts made two free throws to give the Orange a four-point cushion, but Louisville made a jumper, forced a turnover, and hit a free throw, and with three minutes left, trailed by just a point.

After a free throw by Darryl Watkins, Terrence Williams hit back-to-back threes to put Louisville on top for only the second time in the game, 73-69, with less than two minutes to go in the game. Louisville made two free throws and Devendorf made a layup with six seconds left to snap the Syracuse scoring drought.

Edgar Sosa had a game-high 19 points for Louisville. David Padgett recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Juan Palacios scored all of his nine points in the final eight minutes of the game.

Syracuse hosts #21/22 Notre Dame (17-4, 5-2) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Carrier Dome. The game will be televised on ESPNU.