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Syracuse University
Morgan State
SU Tame The Bears, Extends Win Streak
12/20/2010 7:53:39 PM | Men's Basketball
Syracuse 97, Morgan State 55 l Coach Boeheim Quotes l Player Quotes l Photo Gallery
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Thirteen different players scored and #5/5 Syracuse (12-0) had 34 assists on 39 baskets in a 97-55 victory against Morgan State (4-5) on Monday at the Carrier Dome.
Sophomore James Southerland provided a spark off the bench for SU, netting a career-high 18 points and five rebounds. He shot a perfect four-of-four in the first half and finished the night 7-of-10 from the field, including four three-pointers. Senior Rick Jackson matched Southerland's game-high 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
Freshman Fab Melo tipped in a missed shot to start the scoring and blocked Morgan State's shot attempt on the ensuing play to give SU momentum out of the gate. Scoop Jardine responded with a three pointer and Jackson's blocked shot turned into two fast break points from Brandon Triche. The Orange's took an early 9-2 lead, but the Bears responded and narrowed the gap, 11-9.
Southerland hit two jumpers from behind the arc immediately off the bench to extend Syracuse's lead to 26-16. The Orange added six unanswered points, including two monster dunks by Jackson to double the Bears' point total, 32-16. Sophomore Mookie Jones added a pair of threes to put SU up, 40-21, with 6:05 remaining in the first stanza and Syracuse held a 44-29 advantage at the break.
In the second half, Southerland continued to produce for the Orange. At the 10:46 mark, a Southerland dunk off a steal from Jardine gave the Orange a 20-point margin, 63-43. Syracuse remained relentless and put the game out of reach for the Bears. Southerland and Waiters added back-to-back threes to increase SU's lead to 30, 81-51.
Down the stretch, Syracuse showed its depth as every member of the Orange roster saw time on the court and eight players off the bench added to the scoring column. Junior Brandon Reese and sophomore Griffin Hoffman each scored their first points of the season. Reese finished with a career -high four points.
Melo and Baye Moussa Keita each netted career highs with nine and eight points, respectively. Melo also rejected four Bears shot attempts.
The Orange shot 39-of-73 (.534) from the floor and drained a season high 12 shots from behind the arc. Over half of SU's production came from short range as 50 of its points came in the paint.
Syracuse will welcome Drexel to the Carrier Dome on Wednesday, December 22 at 7 p.m. Syracuse fans can catch the Orange against the Dragons on the BIG EAST Network. Tickets can be purchased online, over the phone at 888-DOMETIX or in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office during normal business hours. For additional information, fans can contact the Carrier Dome Box Office toll free 888-366-3849 or 315-443-2121.
