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Syracuse University
Cal-State L.A. (exhibition)
Orange Bests CSULA, 97-54, in Exhibition Opener
10/25/2009 3:37:20 PM | Men's Basketball
Box Score | Coach Boeheim Quotes | Player Quotes
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Basketball returned to the Carrier Dome on Sunday afternoon and the Orange bested Cal State Los Angeles, 97-54, in its exhibition opener. Freshman forwardJames Southerland led all scorers with 19 points, while sophomore forward Kris Joseph had 13.
Southerland was perfect in his Syracuse debut, going 7-for-7 from the field while shooting 5-for-5 from beyond the arc. Southerland poured in 14 of his 19 points in the second half of play. Joseph was 5-for-10 from the field and added three defensive rebounds and a trio of steals. All 13 of his points came after the intermission.
Junior forward Rick Jackson posted a double-double, tallying 12 points and 12 boards. Senior center Arinze Onuaku added 10 points and nine boards and sophomore guard Scoop Jardine rounded out double-digit performers with 10 points and 11 assists for Syracuse.
Leading 54-28 with 13:57 left in the contest, the Orange put the game out of reach with a 14-0 run. Junior forward Wes Johnson and Joseph ignited the run with back-to-back dunks. Southerland added to the onslaught with a pair of 3-point buckets.
Johnson paired eight points with eight boards in his Orange debut. The 6-7 transfer also came up with a pair of steals and a game-best four shot rejections.
Syracuse trailed, 7-3, before freshman guard Brandon Triche weaved through traffic and deposited a left-handed lay up. Triche's bucket ignited a 12-0 run which included slams by Onuaku and Johnson and a pair of tallies from Jackson to give the Orange a 15-7 advantage.
The visitors, coached by former SU standout Stevie Thompson, rallied with six straight points to pull within two, 15-13. The Orange quickly built up the margin again with a 15-3 stretch keyed by five points from redshirt freshman Mookie Jones.
Ahead, 30-18, Syracuse distanced itself further by outscoring the Golden Eagles, 12-0. Southerland capped off the scoring run with a trifecta off an assist from Jardine.
Jones finished with eight points and three boards in a reserve role for the Orange. Jones was 2-for-4 from the field and chipped in four from the charity stripe while corralling three defensive boards. Eleven of 12 Syracuse participants scored.
The Orange completes its brief exhibition schedule on Tuesday, November 3 when it hosts cross-town foe LeMoyne at 7:00 p.m. Syracuse fans can catch the Orange against the Dolphins on Time Warner Sports. Tickets can be purchased online, over the phone at 888-DOMETIX or in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office during normal business hours. For additional information, fans can contact the Carrier Dome Box Office toll free 888-366-3849 or 315-443-2121.
