Syracuse Has Five Players In Double-Figures Against #21/19 Notre Dame

Tuesday, January 30

Carrier Dome

7:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

103

Notre Dame

Demetris Nichols moved into 42nd place on Syracuse's all-time scoring list

Syracuse Has Five Players In Double-Figures Against #21/19 Notre Dame

1/30/2007 9:24:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Coach Boeheim Quotes

SU Player Quotes

Syracuse, N.Y.- Senior Demetris Nichols led all scorers with 29 points and was one of five Orange (15-7, 4-4) who scored in double figures in a 103-91 loss to Notre Dame (18-5, 6-3) at the Carrier Dome on Tuesday, January 30. Syracuse surrendered 100 points for the first time since a 108-69 loss to DePaul on March 2, 2006. The 108 points is the most scored against the Orange in the history of the Dome. Nichols 29 points was two shy of his career-high. He moved up five spaces on the Syracuse all-time scoring list into 42nd place.

Notre Dame made 10 three-pointers in the first half en route to 61 points in the opening period. It was the most points scored by a Syracuse opponent in a half since Navy put up 65 in the second half in a 97-85 NCAA Tournament win at the Dome on March 16, 1986. Notre Dame's 30 free throws and 20 assists were the most by an opponent this season.

Syracuse had five players in double-figures for the second time this year; achieving the feat in the season opener against St. Francis. Terrence Roberts scored 20 points, one shy of his career-high, and had six rebounds and four blocks. It was his first 20-point effort since last season at Villanova. Paul Harris recorded his fourth double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Josh Wright added 12 points and a team-high five assists.

Syracuse was 3-for-5 from behind the arc to start the game. Andy Rautins made his first two three-pointers and Demetris Nichols had the other and the Orange led, 11-9. Notre Dame turned it on from long range, hitting four three-pointers during a 16-4 run over the next three minutes to go up by double-digits, 25-15, with 13:03 left in the opening period.

Syracuse came right back with a 13-5 run to pull within a basket 30-28. Terrence Roberts had two wide-open fastbreak dunks and Nichols scored five points during the stretch. The momentum then swung back to the Irish, who scored 11 unanswered points to go back up big, 41-28, just under the eight minute mark.

The Irish maintained a double-digit lead for the rest of the half and went on an 11-2 run in the final two minutes to take a 61-42 halftime lead. Notre Dame had three players in double-figures and made 10 three-pointers in the half.

Notre Dame scored the first six points of the second half to go up by 25, 67-42. The Irish's biggest lead was 28 points at the 14:04 mark.

With less than eight minutes left in the game, the Syracuse offense came alive. Nichols, Paul Harris, and Darryl Watkins provided all the scoring during a 13-3 Orange run over 1:40 to cut the lead down to 16 points, 86-70. Notre Dame hit three free throws to go back up by 19, but a layup by Harris and a pair of free throws by Josh Wright brought the Orange back within 15 points, 89-74, with four minutes left in regulation.

Nichols drained a jumper at 2:42 and Syracuse was down just 10, 91-81. That is as close as the Orange would come though, as Notre Dame made 12-consecutive free throws to close out the game. The Irish did not have a field goal in the final 10:51, but made 24 free throws during that span.

Syracuse hosts DePaul Saturday at 4 p.m.