Nichols and Devendorf Power SU to BIG EAST Tournament Win Against Connecticut

Wednesday, March 7

Madison Square Garden

2:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

BIG EAST Tournament vs. Connecticut

Senior Demetris Nichols led SU with 28 points against Connecticut.

Nichols and Devendorf Power SU to BIG EAST Tournament Win Against Connecticut

3/7/2007 4:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score (html)

New York, N.Y.- Fifth-seeded Syracuse (22-9) exploded in the second half to beat 12th-seeded Connecticut (17-14), 78-65, in the first round of the BIG EAST Tournament. The Orange advance to play fourth-seeded Notre Dame in Thursday's quarterfinal round at 2 p.m. Syracuse has won eight-consecutive BIG EAST Tournament games, the second longest streak in conference history, and has topped the Huskies three-straight times.

Demetris Nichols and Eric Devendorf combined for 47 points, each dominating a half for the Orange. Nichols led all scorers with 28 points, 19 coming in the second half. Nichols tied his career-high with seven three-pointers in the game to move into fourth place on Syracuse's all-time three-point field goal list. Devendorf had 19 points, 15 in the first half, and four assists.

Darryl Watkins finished with 10 rebounds and three blocks. He became the third Syracuse player to reach 100 blocks in a season, joining Etan Thomas and Derrick Coleman. Terrence Roberts added nine points and eight rebounds.

The second half was essential to the Orange victory. Syracuse outscored Connecticut by 15 points and nearly doubled the Huskies' shooting percentage. After a lackluster shooting performance in the first half, the Orange shot 50 percent from both the field (14-28) and three-point range (5-10) in the second period.

Rebounding once again was an indicator of the final outcome as the Orange beat the Huskies on the boards, 49-39. Syracuse pulled down a season-high 21 offensive boards.

Syracuse struggled from the field at the onset, making just two of its first 10 shots. Jerome Dyson made his first two three-pointers and the Huskies took an 8-5 lead in the first five minutes of play. Connecticut remained ahead for nearly the entire period, leading by as many as seven points. Jerome Dyson, Connecticut's leading scorer the last time it faced Syracuse, had eight of the Huskies' first 12 points and finished the half with 12.

Syracuse hung tough throughout the period and capped a 7-1 run with a layup by Devendorf off a pass from Paul Harris to take its first lead of the game, 33-32, with 2:51 remaining. Connecticut used two jumpers and a dunk to regain the lead at the half, 38-36.

Syracuse jumped right out of the gate in the second half. Devendorf tied the game with a layup and started a 9-2 Syracuse run that put the Orange up, 45-40. Devendorf had nine-consecutive points for Syracuse over the end of the first half and the beginning of the second. After a three-point play from Dyson pulled the Huskies within a basket, Syracuse went on a 16-3 run to go ahead by double-digits for the first time, 61-46. Nichols hit three three-pointers during that stretch and contributed 10 points.

Nichols final three of the game stretched the Syracuse lead to its biggest point, 75-56, just under the four minute mark. Connecticut made one last surge, using a 9-0 run to cut the deficit to 10 points with 2:45 remaining, but the Huskies could not manage another point the rest of the way.