Rautins's Career-High Leads Syracuse To 10th-Consecutive 20 Win Season

Saturday, February 24

Providence, RI

12:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

Providence

Andy Rautins led the Orange with a career-high 19 points

Rautins's Career-High Leads Syracuse To 10th-Consecutive 20 Win Season

2/24/2007 2:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Providence, R.I.-Andy Rautins scored a career-high 19 points to lead Syracuse (20-8, 9-5) past Providence (17-10, 7-7), 71-67, for its fourth-consecutive victory. The win gives the Orange its 10th-consecutive 20 win season and the 29th in the tenure of Jim Boeheim. .

Rautins, who started his first game since the Orange hosted Notre Dame, made five of Syracuse's 12 three-point field goals. Demetris Nichols had four three-pointers, including a critical triple near the end of the game, and finished with 18 points. He moved into 34th place on Syracuse's all-time scoring list with 1,210 points and fifth on the career three-pointer list with 181.

Darryl Watkins had 13 rebounds for the second-consecutive game, as well as 11 points. Eric Devendorf and Paul Harris each had a team-high six assists. Devendrof also chipped in 14 points.

The Orange jumped out to a quick 12-6 lead in the first five minutes. Devendorf canned a three-pointer to start the game and Roberts intercepted a pass at midcourt and took it down for an uncontested dunk. The Friars missed their first six shots from the field, all closer than 10 feet from the basket. Their first field goal came at the 15:28 mark.

Syracuse maintained a comfortable lead until Providence went on a 20-7 run in the final 10 minutes of the first half to erase a nine-point Orange lead. Herbert Hill, Sharaud Curry and Weyinmi Efejuku combined for 18 points during that stretch. Efejuku made a layup with 45 seconds left to give the Friars their first lead of the game, 36-34, and Hill dunked in an offensive rebound to give the Friars a 38-34 halftime lead.

After starting the game 8-for-18 from the field, Syracuse was just 3-for-13, with no threes, to close out the opening period. Andy Rautins led the Orange with nine points, all on three-pointers. Darryl Watkins also had nine points and eight rebounds.

Hill was the catalyst for the Providence offense with 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting. The rest of the Friars were only 7-of-28 from the field in the first half.

Syracuse came out in the second half with a 10-4 run in the first four minutes. After Rautins made a three-pointer, he stole a pass and found Devendorf with a bounce pass for a layup that put the Orange up by a point. Providence took the lead right back with a layup, but Devendorf came right back down the court with a three and the Orange led, 44-42, with 15:45 remaining.

Nichols scored the next 11 points for the Orange on three-straight three-pointers and a tip-in layup. Providence kept pace, though, trailing by no more than six any point. The Friars were down by one when Rautins streaked behind the defense for a one-handed tip-in off a missed three-pointer to put the Orange up, 57-54, with under eight minutes left.

Providence managed to tie the game at 60 and Rautins put the Orange back on top with a three and a layup off a pass from Devendorf. The Friars came back again, tying the score up at 65 on a three from Brian McKenzie. After a Syracuse turnover, Providence missed an open layup underneath and Paul Harris came down with the rebound. Nichols nailed a three-pointer to give Syracuse the decisive advantage.

Hill made a jumper in the lane to pull the Friars within one, but Devendorf made a free throw and Harris made two from the line with nine seconds left and Syracuse held on for the victory.

Syracuse hosts #12/12 Georgetown in its final home game of the season on Monday at 7 p.m.