.png)
Syracuse University
Georgia Tech
Syracuse Wins Legends Classic Title
11/27/2010 10:47:50 PM | Men's Basketball
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – No. 9/10 Syracuse used a 22-4 second-half scoring run to overcome a five-point deficit on its way to an 80-76 victory against Georgia Tech in the championship game of the Legends Classic on Saturday, November 27 in Atlantic City, N.J. The Orange improves to 6-0 this season, while the Yellow Jackets go to 4-2.
Senior Rick Jackson was named the tournament MVP after recording double-doubles in the semifinals and finals. Jackson scored 10 points and grabbed 14 rebounds against Georgia Tech after recording 10 points and 12 rebounds against Michigan in the semifinals. He now has five double-doubles this season and 12 in his career. Jackson was joined on the All-Tournament team by junior Kris Joseph, who finished the night with 19 points.
Five Orange players scored in double figures, including junior Scoop Jardine, who recorded 15 points to go along with eight assists and two steals. Freshman Dion Waiters came off the bench to contribute a career-high 13 points, while fellow freshman #C.J. Fair# added 10 points. Georgia Tech's Brian Oliver led all scorers with a career-best 32 points.
Oliver sparked Georgia Tech in the opening minutes of the contest, accounting for the Yellow Jackets' first 10 points, helping them to a 23-14 advantage. Six consecutive points by Waiters cut the lead to three, but Georgia Tech responded with four straight points to take a 27-20 lead. With the Yellow Jackets up 36-31, the Orange closed out the first half on a 7-0 scoring run to take a two-point lead into the locker room at halftime. Jardine started the run with a basket before Fair's dunk cut the lead to one. Fair then hit his first career three-pointer in the final seconds of the half to give the Orange its first lead of the game.
Georgia Tech quickly erased SU's lead, outscoring the Orange, 9-2, to take a 47-40 lead to start the second half. Trailing 49-44, freshman Baye Moussa Keita recorded his second basket of the night, starting a 22-4 scoring run which gave Syracuse its largest lead of the game at 66-53. Joseph had 12 points during the run, while Jardine and Fair each had three. Georgia Tech battled back to cut the lead to five at 72-67, but Jackson's dunk on an alley-oop pass from Jardine pushed SU's advantage back to seven. The Orange increased its lead to 10 before Georgia Tech scored five straight points to get within five in the final minute. But Jardine went 1-for-2 from the free throw line to seal the win as the Orange recorded the four-point victory.
Syracuse shot a season-best 55.6 percent (25-for-45) from the field and recorded season highs in free throws attempted (38) and made (26). Georgia Tech was 6-for-11 from three-point range in the first half, but connected on just two of 13 attempts in the second half.
The Orange returns to the Carrier Dome on Tuesday, November 30 when it hosts Central New York foe Cornell at 7 p.m. Fans can purchase tickets for the game online at SUathletics.com or by phone at 1-888-DOMETIX.
