Welcome Back: Orange Bests Golden Knights, 80-71, in Exhibition Opener

Sunday, November 4

Carrier Dome

2:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

College of St. Rose (exhibition)

Freshman guard Jonny Flynn directed the Syracuse offense with a team-high seven assists.

Welcome Back: Orange Bests Golden Knights, 80-71, in Exhibition Opener

11/4/2007 4:42:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Syracuse Player Quotes

SYRACUSE, NY – The Orange faithful received its first taste of one of the nation's most highly-touted recruiting classes on Sunday afternoon in the Carrier Dome when Syracuse bested The College of Saint Rose, 80-71, in exhibition action. Freshman forward Donte' Greene and junior guard Eric Devendorf powered the Orange to victory with 16 points apiece.

Greene, a BIG EAST Co-Rookie of the Year honoree with teammate Jonny Flynn, shot 6-for-13 from the field, including 3-for-7 from beyond the arc, while grabbing seven rebounds. All 16 of his points came in the opening half of play. Devendorf, a preseason All-BIG EAST selection, paced the Orange with 10 points in the second half.

In the game's momentum-swinging sequence, Devendorf's hoop-and-the-harm three-point basket with just over five minutes remaining supplied Syracuse with a 66-63 lead, an advantage never relinquished. An Orange 11-2 run over the last four and a half minutes, sparked by a pair of put backs from junior center Arinze Onuaku, propelled Syracuse to the victory.

Onuaku and sophomore forward Paul Harris controlled the glass with 10 rebounds apiece. The powerful 6-9 center grabbed six caroms on the offensive end and tallied 10 points and Harris sparked the late Syracuse run before finishing with 12 points. Harris had an exclamation point dunk, off a backboard-feed from Flynn, that sent the Carrier Dome into a frenzy with just under one minute remaining.

Flynn orchestrated 32^nd-year Hall of Fame head coach Jim Boeheim's offense with a squad-best nine assists while scoring seven points. Fellow freshman guard Scoop Jardine played 14 minutes in a reserve role and paired seven points with two assists.

Jardine's most impressive sequence came after committing a turnover in the backcourt. After Jardine lost the handle, the 6-1 guard regrouped and intercepted a Golden Knight cross-court pass, raced the length of the floor and dribbled behind his back before depositing the first two of a conventional three-point play that extended the Syracuse advantage to nine points.

Freshman center Rick Jackson, Jardine's high school teammate at Philadelphia power Neumann Goretti, collected six points and gathered seven boards in 15 minutes of action.

Syracuse led by three at intermission after the Golden Knights closed out the first stanza on a 12-0 run. Greene keyed the Orange on 6-for-10 shooting, including back-to-back triples that handed Syracuse a 33-21 lead with just over six minutes remaining.

Junior college transfer Kristof Ongenaet provided Boeheim with a spark off the bench in the first half. Ongenaet got open for an dunk before stepping out behind the arc for a deep trifecta.

The Orange completes its brief exhibition schedule on Wednesday, November 7 at 7:00 p.m. against cross-town foe LeMoyne. Syracuse fans can catch the Orange against the Dolphins on Time Warner Sports 26. Tickets can be purchased online at suathletics.com, over the phone at 888-DOMETIX or in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office during normal business hours. For additional information, fans can contact the Carrier Dome Box Office toll free (888-366-3849) or (315-443-2121).