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Syracuse University
University of Memphis
Syracuse Defeats Memphis, 74-57, with Second-Half Surge
1/6/2010 6:44:21 PM | Men's Basketball
Box Score | Coach Boeheim Quotes | Student-Athlete Quotes
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – #7/7 Syracuse (14-1) used a second-half surge to defeat Memphis (10-4), 74-57, on Tuesday night at the Carrier Dome. With the win, the Orange closed out its non-conference schedule with a perfect 13-0 record. SU last posted a perfect non-conference during the 1993-94 season when it went 8-0 in non-league action.
The Orange offense was clicking on all cylinders, with seven players scoring including five in double-figures. Junior forward Wes Johnson led all scorers with 19 points while adding seven rebounds and a trio of assists. Sophomore forward Kris Joseph matched 15 points with a team-best nine rebounds.
Senior guard Andy Rautins directed the Syracuse attack with a team-best seven assists while contributing 11 points of his own. Senior Arinze Onuaku and Rick Jackson rounded out the double-digit scorers, posting 10 points each. Onuaku matched his offensive performance with eight rebounds and a pair of steals while Jackson had seven boards.
Redshirt sophomore guard Scoop Jardine added six points in a reserve role while freshman Brandon Triche had three points and four assists.
Back-and-forth play highlighted the opening half as the two teams exchanged the lead seven times, tying on two occasions. Johnson opened the scoring with a trifecta before the Tigers used an 8-1 run to take an 8-4 lead with 16:50 left in the half.
Memphis continued to drive, taking its largest lead of the half, 12-5, with 13:28 remaining, but the Orange responded with a 10-2 run to take a 15-14 lead. Syracuse built its edge to four, 24-20, on a Scoop Jardine three with 5:25 left in the half.
The Tigers scored from behind the arc on three-straight possessions to reclaim the lead, 32-27, with 1:43 remaining in the half. Syracuse refused to fall behind before the break as Onuaku slammed it home for a quick two and Rautins connected from three-point range with five seconds remaining to knot the game, 32-32, at halftime.
The Orange came out of intermission on fire, taking a quick 40-39 lead, before compiling an 11-1 run to break the game open, 51-40, with 11:13 left to play. Syracuse refused to let up, taking its largest lead of the game, 69-51, with 1:13 remaining before cruising to a 74-57 victory.
Syracuse returns to action on Sunday, January 10, when it hosts BIG EAST foe South Florida in the Carrier Dome at 2 p.m.
