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Syracuse University
Columbia University
Johnson Posts Career Performance in 85-60 Victory against Columbia
11/27/2009 6:22:21 PM | Men's Basketball
Box Score | Coach Boeheim Quotes | Student-Athlete Quotes
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Junior forward Wes Johnson led all scorers with a career-best 26 points as #10/9 Syracuse defeated Columbia, 85-60, on Friday night at the Carrier Dome. The victory marked win number 805 for head coach Jim Boeheim, who moved ahead of Eddie Sutton for seventh on the Division I career victories list.
Johnson was 8-for-13 from the field, 4-for-5 from 3-point range and a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe. He added three rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals. Johnson led a well-balanced Orange offense that had 11 players contribute points, including four in double-digits.
Syracuse shot 52.6 percent from the field, while limiting the Lions to 37.9 percent shooting. The SU offense controlled the paint, outscoring the Lions 40-18, while also holding a 16-2 edge in fast-break points. The Orange matched its all-around offense with strong defense, causing 20 Columbia miscues while holding a 29-9 advantage in points off turnovers.
Senior center Arinze Onuaku added 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting while corralling five rebounds and tallying a game-best three blocked shots. Sophomore Mookie Jones also had 12 points for the Orange, netting four threes in a reserve role. Junior Rick Jackson rounded out the double-digit scorers, pairing 10 points with a game-high nine boards.
Sophomore guard Scoop Jardine dished out a game-best seven assists while adding eight points and five steals.
Onuaku powered Syracuse to a fast start as it outscored Columbia, 9-2, in the first 3:30. The senior center opened the scoring with an offensive rebound and put back for two of his six points in the run.
Noruwa Agho kept Columbia in the game early, scoring 11 of 13 points to pull the Lions within three, 16-13, with 11:00 remaining in the half.
The Orange reasserted its edge with an eight-point run to take a 24-15 lead with 7:58 left in the half. Johnson sparked the run with an acrobatic mid-air rebound and lay-in while also contributing a pair of free throws. Johnson also had a steal and assist in the run, picking off a Columbia pass in the lane and feeding Scoop Jardine for the fast-break bucket.
Syracuse opened the second half on an eight-point run while holding the Lions scoreless through the first three minutes of play. Onuaku netted the first five points of the stretch before Johnson connected from three-point range, giving a 44-27 lead with 17:38 remaining.
The Orange increased the separation with an 11-0 run, taking a 55-30 lead with 14:17 left to play. Triche sparked the spurt with a lay-up through traffic before Johnson and Jones brought the Dome crowd of 20,166 to its feet with three-straight trifectas.
Syracuse took its largest lead of the game, 79-45, with 5:25 remaining before cruising to an 85-60 victory.
Rookie guard Brandon Triche matched six points with two helpers while senior guard Andy Rautins, sophomore forward Kris Joseph and freshman forward DaShonte Riley each added three points.
The Orange continues its non-conference slate when it entertains Colgate on Monday, November 30 at 7 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.
