Syracuse University
Georgetown
Orange Out! SU 98, Georgetown 94!
2/14/2009 2:29:24 PM | Men's Basketball
Syracuse 98, Georgetown 94 (OT)
Coach Boeheim Postgame Quotes | Student-Athlete Player Quotes
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – A crowd of 31,841, the largest in college basketball this season, witnessed #23/22 Syracuse (19-7, 7-6) edge long-time rival Georgetown (13-10, 4-8) 98-94 in overtime at the Carrier Dome on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Jonny Flynn tallied a game-high 25 points, including six in ovetime, for the Orange.
Flynn added a career-high 13 assists and became the 51st Syracuse player to score 1,000 career points. Junior Eric Devendorf contributed 23 points, including two threes sandwiched around a Flynn layup at the start of the extra session. Junior Arinze Onuaku returned to form with his first double-double since January 7, accumulating 15 points and 13 rebounds. Sophomore Rick Jackson and junior Andy Rautins rounded out five SU players in double-digit scoring with 13 each.
Syracuse seemed to have the game in hand when it led by 16 with 8:14 left in regulation, 66-50. The Hoyas chipped away at the margin gradually and knotted the contest, 83-83, with 13 seconds left on a three-pointer from Chris Wright. The 33-17 Hoya stretch was keyed by Wright, who had 13 of his 25 points during the run. Georgetown had a chance to end the contest following a Flynn turnover with six seconds left but could not get a shot off in time.
The Orange shook off the disappointing stretch by launching a counter attack right off the overtime tip. Devendorf drained a three to put the Orange back up. After Georgetown's Greg Monroe dunked, Flynn countered with a layup. Jessie Sapp sscored to keep the Hoyas close and then, following another Syracuse turnover, Austin Freeman converted a jumper to give the visitors an 89-88 advantage. Devendorf countered with his fifth three-ball of the game and Flynn rebounded a Hoya miss and was fouled with 50 seconds left. His two free throws gave SU the lead for good. Flynn, who made 15-of-16 from the line, sealed the triumph with his last two from the charity stripe with seven ticks left.
Syracuse converted all four of its field-goal attempts, including two three pointers, in the extra session, and was five-of-six from the line.
The first half featured five ties and eight lead changes. The Hoyas led by as many as seven, 26-19 and again at 31-24, before Syracuse used a 9-1 run to close out the first 20 minutes. Flynn was the catalyst, converting two free throws, a conventional three-point play, and then assisting on back-to-back Jackson baskets to put SU in front just prior to the break, 33-32. Rautins was a key first-half contributer, draining three from long distance and adding a layup for 11 points.
Two baskets by Onuaku, a three from Devendorf and a layup by Jackson had the Orange on a 9-0 run to begin the second half. SU's margin was 10, 42-32, and gradually increased to 16 before the Hoyas rallied.
The 31,841 fans topped a January game against Notre Dame that drew 30,021 as the largest in college basketball this season. Syracuse improved its record at games with 30,000-or-more fans at the Dome to 44-21.
The triumph was victory number 790 for head coach Jim Boeheim, the third-winningest active coach in the Division I ranks. His record in overtime games improved to 2-0 this season and 33-20 overall.
The Hoyas finished the game with four players in reaching double-digit points. In addition to Wright's work, Freeman had 19, Summers added 17 and Monroe contributed 16.Monroe also had 11 rebounds to pace Georgetown.
The Orange welcomes #13/13 Villanova to the Dome for a 1:00 p.m. matchup on February 22. Fans can purchase tickets at SUathletics.com, over the phone at 888-DOMETIX or in person at the Carrier Dome Ticket Office during normal business hours.
