Rick Jackson scored 13 points and had seven rebounds against Rhode Island.
Buccaneers Sail Into Syracuse For Saturday Showdown
12/14/2007 10:36:52 AM | Men's Basketball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The SU men’s basketball team (6-3) returns to the floor after a week off when it hosts East Tennessee State (4-4) Saturday, Dec. 15 at the Carrier Dome. Both squads are looking to get back in the win column. The Buccaneers lost a 78-65 decision at Oklahoma State in their last outing, while the Orange lost at home to Rhode Island, 91-89, on Dec. 8. Tip off for Saturday night’s affair is slated for 7 p.m.
Tickets may be purchased on-line (click here), over the phone (1-888-DOMETIX), or in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office during normal business hours. Once again, fans will be able to receive their tickets immediately after their purchase, using the “Print At Home” delivery method. For additional information, fans can contact the Carrier Dome Box Office toll free (888-366-3849) or (315-443-2121).
Voice of the Orange Matt Park and former SU standout Gene Waldron will have the call on the Syracuse ISP Network’s flagship (TK-99.5 FM) with the pre-game show beginning an hour before tipoff. The radio network broadcast is available live on Orange All-Access. In addition, Saturday’s game will be televised live in Syracuse and the surrounding area on Time Warner 26.
The Orange is continuing to put up big numbers in the scoring column. Its 89 points versus Rhode Island last time out marked the fifth time in nine games it has scored at least 80 points. For the season, Jim Boeheim’s club is averaging 81.9 points per contest and shooting almost a 50 percent clip from the field (266-543, .490). Syracuse is third in the BIG EAST in scoring behind Seton Hall and West Virginia.
Freshman Donte’ Greene (Baltimore, Md.) is the highest scoring rookie in the conference at 18.2 points per contest. He ranks second in the league in scoring average. Brian Laing of Seton Hall leads the way at 20.1 ppg. Greene was hampered by foul trouble against the Rams, but still managed 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
While the Rams limited Greene, they didn’t have an answer for classmates Rick Jackson (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Jonny Flynn (Niagara Falls, N.Y.). Jackson played his best game of the year, scoring 13 points, grabbing seven boards and blocking four shots. Flynn recorded his second double-double, leading SU with 21 points and dishing out 10 assists. The performance elevated his assists average to 6.2, the third-highest mark for a freshman in the nation.
Syracuse’s last two games have been settled by a combined four points and close games are nothing new for Saturday’s visitors. Five of East Tennessee State’s first eight games have been settled by six points or less, including an overtime loss at Marshall (84-83) and an overtime triumph at NC-Asheville (89-87). Junior forward Kevin Tiggs (16.4 ppg.) and junior guard Cortney Pigram (16.1 ppg.) are the Buccaneers top two scorers.
Murray Bartow, the son of former UCLA and Alabama-Birmingham coach Gene Bartow, is in his fifth season at East Tennessee State. His clubs have produced an 80-42 record during his tenure, including this season’s 4-4 mark. Prior to taking the job with the Bucs, Bartow spent six seasons as head coach at Alabama-Birmingham. He guided East Tennessee State to a 27-6 record, a 15-1 conference mark, and the NCAA Tournament in 2003-04, his first season with the program. After missing the postseason two years in a row, the Bucs returned a year ago, earning an NIT berth and finishing with a 24-10 record.
It’s the second-ever meeting between the two programs. The Buccaneers played in the 1988 Carrier Classic in the Dome and lost to the host Orange, 120-81.
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