Orange Denies Seton Hall, Captures 85-73 Victory

Wednesday, March 5

Prudential Center

7:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

Seton Hall

Junior forward Kristof Ongenaet recorded his first-career double-double with 10 points and a career-best 11 rebounds against Seton Hall on Wednesday.

Orange Denies Seton Hall, Captures 85-73 Victory

3/5/2008 9:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

NEWARK, N.J. – Junior center Arinze Onuaku keyed five Orange scorers in double figures and tallied his ninth-career double-double with 17 points and a game-high 14 rebounds in Syracuse's (18-12, 8-9) 85-73 win at BIG EAST foe Seton Hall (17-13, 7-10) on Wednesday. Junior forward Kristof Ongenaet collected his first-career double-double with 10 points, on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting display, and a career-best 11 boards.

Freshman forward Donte' Greene recorded his sixth double-double of the season with a team-high 19 points and career-high 13 rebounds. The last Orange trio to each tally double-doubles in the same contest was Carmelo Anthony (24 points, 11 rebounds), Gerry McNamara (25 points, 10 assists) and Hakim Warrick (10 points, 11 rebounds) in a convincing 92-65 win against Georgia Tech in SU's 2003 National Championship campaign on December 21, 2002.

The Orange offense boasted at least five scorers in double figures for the seventh time this season and first since January 5 against South Florida. Rookie point guard Jonny Flynn recorded 16 points on 6-for-11 shooting and a game-high eight assists, while sophomore guard Paul Harris registered 14 points and grabbed eight caroms.

Syracuse shot a blistering 50.8 percent from the field overall, while the Pirates registered just a 36.5 percent scoring clip, well below its 43.2 percent season average. Seton Hall entered the contest ranked third in the BIG EAST with 78.1 points per game.

The Orange opened the contest shooting just 1-for-10 from the field overall. However, behind a concerted team effort on the glass at both ends, Syracuse sprinted to a 28-17 advantage with 6:45 remaining in the first half. Flynn ignited a 9-2 run with a three-ball before finding a streaking Onuaku for a hoop and the harm. Minutes later, Flynn finished a back-door two-hand flush along the baseline off a high-post feed from Greene.

The Syracuse cushion twice grew to 11 points in the first half. Rookie guard Scoop Jardine provided a spirited boost of energy off the SU bench, scoring four consecutive points on fast-break lay-ins and handing the Orange a 26-15 lead. After SHU trimmed the margin to nine, Jardine fed Onuaku the rock on the block before the 6-9 center power moved his way into the lane and finished with a soft left-hand jump hook.

The Pirates narrowed the Orange edge to six points, 30-24, before Flynn connected on a fast-break runner and Harris deposited a highlight-reel slam off an offensive rebound. Onuaku's turn-around jumper from five feet kicked off the back iron before Harris emphatically cleaned up the leftovers.

The Orange closed the first half on a 12-2 run, sparked by back-to-back pure three-point field goals from Greene. Flynn found the 6-11 forward in rhythm before Ongenaet converted two left-hand lay-ins on the break. Onuaku punctuated the spurt with a thunderous stuff off a dish from Harris. Jardine sunk two charity tosses with 0.3 ticks remaining, however a clock malfunction in the final second negated the free throws.

Syracuse's 15-point cushion at the intermission was its largest since the Orange paced Georgetown, 38-22, at the break on February 16. SU shot 20-for-40 from the field and wiped the window clean, claiming 23 rebounds, including 12 on the offensive end. The Orange dominated the glass throughout, owning a commanding 51-23 advantage for the game.

Flynn's three-point basket at the 16:56 mark of the second half supplied the Orange with a game-high 18-point lead, 53-35.

Yet, the host Pirates refused to surrender and twice narrowed the Orange's lead to single digits in the final 12 minutes. After a three-point field goal from Larry Davis cut the SU edge to 64-55, Syracuse responded with an 8-0 run, securing a 72-55 advantage with 7:34 remaining. Greene capped the run with an offensive rebound and putback.

Seton Hall's Brian Laing, who scored just three points in the first half but finished with a game-high 20, strung together 14 straight points for the Pirates, bringing the hosts back to within striking distance, 76-69, following a trifecta at the 3:39 mark.

The Orange calmed the storm and scored nine of the game's final 13 points. Harris totaled eight straight during the stretch for Syracuse, including a crucial 4-0 run that forced SHU head coach Bobby Gonzalez into a timeout. The Niagara Falls, N.Y., native confidently stepped into 12-footer before slashing through the paint for a lay-in with just under two minutes left.

SHU guard Jamar Nutter complimented Laing's efforts with 15 points and six helpers, while guard Jeremy Hazell added 14. Center John Garcia led the hosts with nine rebounds.

Syracuse returns to the Carrier Dome for its final regular season home game against BIG EAST foe No. 21/20 Marquette on Saturday, March 8 at 4:00 p.m. The SU faithful can catch the Orange and Golden Eagles on ESPN.

Tickets for Saturday's game can 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.