Nichols Nets Career-High 37 To Lead Syracuse Past St. John's, 76-74

Sunday, February 11

Carrier Dome

2:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

St. John's

Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim and St. John's head coach Norm Roberts sport their white shoes as a part of Coaches vs. Cancer's Suits and Sneakers weekend

Nichols Nets Career-High 37 To Lead Syracuse Past St. John's, 76-74

2/11/2007 4:24:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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Syracuse, N.Y.- Demetris Nichols scored a career-high 37 points to lead Syracuse (17-8, 6-5) past St. John's (14-11, 5-7), 76-74, and avenge a loss to the Red Storm earlier in the season. Nichols made a career-high seven three-point field goals. He made eight-consecutive baskets during a critical 23-11 Syracuse run .

Nichols moved into 38th place on Syracuse's all-time scoring list with 1,164 points, one behind former Syracuse guard Jimmy Lee, who was in attendance at the game. Nichols now has 174 career three-pointers, one behind DeShaun Williams for sixth place on the school's all-time list. He also pulled down 10 rebounds, tying his career-best effort, and earning his second double-double of the season.

Darryl Watkins turned in a solid effort with 11 points, eight rebounds and six blocks. He now has 81 blocks on the year, the third-highest total by a Syracuse senior. Andy Rautins had four three-pointers and 14 points. Terrence Roberts had 10 rebounds, his eighth double-digit rebounding game this season. Eric Devendorf set a career-high with nine assists and Josh Wright added eight assists.

Syracuse got five points from Nichols and four from Watkins as it built an 11-7 lead five minutes into the action. The Orange missed its next three shots from the field and two free throws and the Red Storm capitalized with a nine unanswered points to take a 16-11 lead.

Syracuse came right back with a 7-0 run to regain the lead, 18-16. St. John's made six of its next seven shots, but Andy Rautins kept the Orange close with eight points. With five minutes to go in the half, St. John's led the Orange by four, 30-26.

The Orange pulled within two after a jumper from Terrence Roberts. Both teams were scoreless for nearly three minutes until Eugene Lawrence made a three-pointer to put the Red Storm up by four. Roberts was then whistled for a technical foul, sending him to the bench with three personals, but Anthony Patterson could only make one free throw. Nichols nailed a pull-up three just before the buzzer and Syracuse was down by three at the half, 34-31.

Nichols came out on fire in the second half, making his first seven shots, three of which came from behind the arc. He had 17 of Syracuse's first 20 points in the second half to lead the Orange to a 51-45 advantage, it's first since the 6:45 mark of the first period.

St. John's managed to take a one point lead over the next four minutes, but Rautins nailed back-to-back threes to put the Orange back on top by a five, 62-57, with just under seven minutes remaining. St. John's made three-pointers on two of its next three possessions to go back up by a point, 63-62.

Watkins made two free throws to give the Orange its seventh lead of the game, 64-63. Nichols was then intentionally fouled as he went up for a fastbreak layup. He made both foul shots and then hit a three off a pass from Devendorf on the ensuing inbounds. After a jumper by Anthony Mason, Jr. cut the lead to four, Nichols canned a pull-up jumper to give the Orange a six point cushion, 71-65, with 2:39 to go.

Mason made a three-pointer with 54 seconds left and the Red Storm trailed by only three points. After six-consecutive missed free throws, the Orange made 5-of-6 in the final minute to hold onto the victory.

The Syracuse and St. John's coaching staffs wore white sneakers as a part of Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers weekend. The annual event is held on the second weekend of February and all Division I, II and III coaches are encouraged to wear sneakers with their suits to raise awareness about cancer prevention.

Syracuse heads to Tampa for the first time to take on the South Florida Bulls (12-13, 3-8) on Wednesday at 7 p.m.