Syracuse University
Iona
12/17/2010 1:25:02 PM | Men's Basketball
| GAME #10 | ||
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vs. |  |
| Game Info | Saturday, December 18 | 7:00 p.m. | Game Notes | |
| Location | Carrier Dome | Tickets | |
| Game Day | ||
| TV/Radio | BIG EAST Network | TK99 | |
SYRACUSE, N.Y. –Syracuse returns to the court on Saturday, December 18 when it hosts the Iona Gaels in the Carrier Dome. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. The Orange, one of 11 unbeaten teams in Division I, climbed to fifth in the national rankings this week after improving its record to 10-0. Iona enters Saturday's game with a seven-game winning streak and a mark of 7-3.
Tickets for Saturday's game are available online, by phone (1-888-DOMETIX) or in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office. Fans not in attendance can watch the game live on the BIG EAST Network or listen to the action via the Syracuse ISP Radio Network and its flagship TK99 (99.5 FM). The audio stream of the broadcast will be available on Orange All Access on SUathletics.com. Subscriptions to Orange All Access are available at daily, monthly and yearly rates.
BUSY WEEK BEGINS FOR THE ORANGE
After six days off during finals week, Syracuse's game against Iona begins a stretch of three games in five days for the Orange. SU hosts Morgan State on Monday, December 20 and Drexel on Wednesday, December 22. Syracuse will then have six days off before opening BIG EAST play in the Carrier Dome on Tuesday, December 28 against Providence.
OFF AND RUNNING
Syracuse is off to a 10-0 start for the second straight season and for the 13th time in Coach Jim Boeheim's 35-year tenure as head coach. The Orange improved to 11-0 in 10 of those seasons.
JACKSON RANKS AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS
Senior Rick Jackson not only leads the BIG EAST in rebounds, but he also ranks fourth in the nation, averaging 12.5 rebounds per game. The national leader, Morehead State's Kenneth Faried, has pulled down 13.7 rebounds per game this season. If Jackson continues at his current pace, he would have the highest per-game average since Rudy Hackett pulled down 12.7 rebounds per game in 1974-75.
Jackson led the Orange to a victory against Colgate with a team-high 18 points and 10 rebounds It was his eighth double-double of the season and 15th of his career.
A LOOK AT THE ORANGE
Syracuse extended its winning streak to 10 games with a dominating performance in a 100-43 victory against Colgate on Saturday, December 11. The 57-point win matches the largest margin of triumph during Jim Boeheim's 35-year tenure at the helm of the program.
The Orange took control of the game early, holding Colgate scoreless for the first 4:41 of play. With 7:23 left in the opening period, SU had built a 34-4 advantage on its way to a 46-8 halftime lead. It was the fewest points Syracuse had allowed in a half during Boeheim's tenure, while the 46 points was the most the Orange has scored in the first half this season.
Syracuse continued to build on its lead in the second half as it cruised to the victory against one of its oldest rivals. All 17 Syracuse players saw action in the game, 12 of which scored. Senior Rick Jackson led the way with 18 points, while freshman Dion Waiters added a career-high 17 points. Junion Scoop Jardine and sophomore Brandon Triche also reached double figures in scoring with 13 and 14 points, respectively.
SCOUTING IONA
After starting the season with three straight losses, Iona enters Saturday's game on a seven-game winning streak. Two of the Gaels' losses were by two points or less.
Junior Mike Glover leads Iona in scoring and rebounding, averaging 22.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. He was named the Player of the Week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, ESPN.com, the ECAC and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference after averaging 29.7 points and 12.7 rebounds in Iona's victories against Norfolk State, Canisius and Niagara.
Glover is one of four Gaels averaging double-digits in scoring this season. Scott Machado is posting 13.7 points per contest, while Kyle Smith and Jermel Jenkins are averaging 12.8 and 12.1 points per game, respectively.
Tim Cluess is in his first year at Iona. Prior to taking over the helm of the Gaels' program, Cluess spent the last five years at Suffolk Community College and C.W. Post. He also spent 14 years as head coach at St. Mary's High School in Manhasset, N.Y.
SERIES HISTORY
Syracuse leads the all-time series with Iona, 3-0. The Orange defeated the Gaels, 89-76, in the first meeting between the two schools in 1978. The teams met again in 1983, a game SU won, 109-92.
The last meeting between the two schools was in the first round of the 1998 NCAA Tournament in Lexington, Ky. The Orange defeated the Gaels, 63-61.
UP NEXT…
The Orange continues its homestand on Monday when its hosts Morgan State at 7 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. Tickets for the game are available online, by phone (1-888-DOMETIX) or in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office.
