Flynn From Deep: No. 25 Syracuse Outlasts Saint Joseph's, 72-69

Tuesday, November 13

Carrier Dome

7:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

NIT Tipoff vs. Saint Joseph's

Junior Arinze Onuaku totaled a career-best 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting against Saint Joseph's on Tuesday at the Carrier Dome.

Flynn From Deep: No. 25 Syracuse Outlasts Saint Joseph's, 72-69

11/13/2007 9:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score
Syracuse Player Postgame Quotes

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Freshman point guard Jonny Flynn's lone field goal of the evening was a three-point basket that broke a 68-68 tie with 5.3 ticks remaining. Pat Calathes' long-range heave with 0.8 seconds remaining sailed long and the 25th-ranked Orange held onto a dramatic 72-69 victory against Saint Joseph's on Wednesday night in front of 16,946 fans at the Carrier Dome.

With the win, the Orange advances to the semifinal round of the Preseason NIT, played on Wednesday, November 21 in the Big Apple at Madison Square Garden.

Sophomore Paul Harris paired 18 points with a game-high 14 rebounds en route to his ninth-career double-double. Freshman forward Donte Greene matched Harris offensively with 18 points, highlighted by a 3-for-7 shooting clip from long distance.

After pouring in 28 points and setting a new Syracuse freshman scoring record in a debut on Monday night, Flynn shot just 1-for-6 from the field, nailing the go-ahead three-ball and propelling the Orange to a 2-0 start. The 6-0 guard orchestrated an Orange offense to a 46.7 percent shooting clip with six assists against one turnover.

With the score deadlocked at 68, Syracuse Hall of Fame head coach Jim Boeheim, in his 32^nd season at the helm of the Orange basketball program, called a 30 second timeout. On the ensuing inbound, Flynn ran the play clock down to 10 seconds before coming off a high ball-screen from junior center Arinze Onuaku and sinking the game's final basket.

The Orange led by as many as 12 points in the second half, but failed to staved off a pesky Hawks team that matched the hosts' blistering shooting performance. Sophomore guard Darrin Govens scored a career-best 22 points and nailed six three-point baskets on 14 tries. Calathes posted 22 points and grabbed a team-best eight rebounds.

The significant defensive improvement on the part of the Orange from one night ago can best be represented in the Saint Joseph's box score. Junior center Ahmad Nivins, a first-team Atlantic 10 selection from one year ago, was limited to just three points on a measly 1-for-4 shooting from the field.

The trio of Greene, Harris and Onuaku kept the dangerous Nivins at bay throughout. On the other end, Onuaku eclipsed a career-high for the second straight night with 17 points on a marksmen-like 7-for-10 shooting. The 6-9 center led a Syracuse charge in the paint that outscored the Hawks, 32-24.

Sharpshooting guard Eric Devendorf collected 12 points, 11 of which came in the first half. Devendorf's 5-for-6 shooting display at the intermission led the Orange into the locker room holding a 33-30 lead. After the Orange found itself trailing 10-0 in the opening minutes, Devendorf ignited an 11-0 run that claimed the lead.

Syracuse trailed early after shooting just 23 percent from the field in the opening minutes and coming up empty on its first six offensive trips. However behind the energy of the home crowd, a Harris putback lay-in sparked the Orange to a first-half advantage.

Tickets for the Preseason NIT semifinals and finals will go on sale at noon on Wednesday, November 14 and remain on sale through noon on Friday, November 16. Tickets can be purchased over the phone at 888-DOMETIX or in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office.

Pricing information and other relevant ticket information will be made available at www.suathletics.com as soon as confirmed with Madison Square Garden.