Devendorf and Rautins Have Career Days To Lead Syracuse Past DePaul, 75-69

Saturday, February 3

Carrier Dome

4:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

DePaul

Andy Rautins scored all of his career-high 18 points from three-point range

Devendorf and Rautins Have Career Days To Lead Syracuse Past DePaul, 75-69

2/3/2007 6:14:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Coach Boeheim Quotes

SU Player Quotes

Syracuse, N.Y.- Eric Devendorf and Andy Rautins both turned in career-high performances to lead Syracuse (16-7, 5-4) past DePaul (13-10, 4-6), 75-69, and snap its three-game losing skid. The duo made 11 of the Orange's 13 three-point field goals, which tied its season-high mark.

Devendorf scored a game-high 27 points. He tied a career-high with five three-pointers and had a personal-best five steals. Rautins made a career-best six three-pointers for 18 points. Darryl Watkins led the Orange with eight rebounds and three blocks. Josh Wright dished out a game-high five assists.

The Orange forced 17 turnovers, which led to 19 points, while only turning the ball over 10 times. DePaul won the battle on the glass, outrebounding the Orange 45-32, including 20 offensive rebounds.

Devendorf and Rautins made all nine of Syracuse's three-pointers in the first half and outscored DePaul, 29-28, in the period. Seven of the Orange's last 11 field goals were triples from either Devendorf or Rautins.

Devendorf, who made his first start in the last 13 games, hit two three-pointers to lead the Orange to an 8-2 lead in the first four minutes. DePaul was 1-for-5 from the field to start the game, including three misses from three-point range.

The Syracuse lead got as big as 11 points twice, but DePaul kept close with outside shooting. After starting the game 0-for-6 from behind the arc, the Blue Demons made four of their next five shots. Five different Orange players scored during a 14-4 run to close out the first half and put Syracuse up, 44-28, at halftime.

Devendorf hit a jumper with 16 minutes left to put the Orange up by 20 for the first time in the game, 52-32. Draelon Burns scored eight points during a 15-5 DePaul run over the next 4:25 that cut the lead down to 10 points, 57-47. Darryl Watkins took a feed from Paul Harris down low and Rautins nailed a three from the corner to put the Orange back up by 15 with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game.

DePaul was able to pull within single-digits, 63-53, for the first time since the 4:58 mark of the first half. Demetris Nichols hit a three to give the Orange a 12 point advantage, but the Blue Demons made three-consecutive jumpers and a free throw and were down by only six points, 68-62, with four minutes left.

Marcus Heard tipped in a missed jumper to cut the Syracuse lead to three points, 68-65, at 1:47. After a foul and a near turnover, Devendorf drove through three defenders and made a layup, but Burns came right back with two free throws to keep DePaul within three. Syracuse made five free throws in the final minute to secure the victory.

Syracuse visits Connecticut (14-8, 3-5) on Monday at 7 p.m. as a part of Rivalry Week on ESPN.