Syracuse University
University of Connecticut
#2/3 Orange Tames Huskies, 72-67
2/10/2010 9:19:02 PM | Men's Basketball
Syracuse 72, Connecticut 67 | Coach Boeheim Quotes | Student-Athlete Quotes
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – #2/3 Syracuse (24-1, 11-1) withstood a late-game rally to defeat Connecticut (14-10, 4-7), 72-67, on Wednesday night at the Carrier Dome. The Orange's 24-1 record marks the best season start in program history, and the team extended its current win streak to 11 games.
All seven players that participated contributed at least seven points for SU, including three in double figures. Junior Rick Jackson led the Orange scorers with 15 points, and added seven rebounds and three blocked shots, while sophomore Kris Joseph tallied 14 points, six boards and a pair of steals off the bench.
The teams knotted the score on four separate occasions in the first eight minutes of play. Tied at 13, the Orange used a 10-2 run to go ahead, 23-15, with 9:02 remaining in the first half. Arinze Onuaku sparked the run, netting a contested layup and converting the ensuing free throw, while Joseph had four points in the stretch.
Stanley Robinson used back-to-back dunks for the Huskies, 23-19, before the Orange increased the separation with a 7-3 run to make it 30-22 with 5:55 left in the half.
Jackson scored the next five points for Syracuse, helping give SU its largest lead of the half, 35-25, with 2:55 left until the break. Robinson responded for the Huskies, netting five straight points to halve the deficit, 35-30.
Scoop Jardine increased the Orange advantage just before the brintermission, rolling a shot off the top of the glass as time expired to make it 37-30 at the half.
Syracuse came out strong to start the second half, opening on a 13-4 run to take its largest lead of the game, 50-34, with 13:51 left on the clock.
UConn answered with its own 16-4 scoring tear through the next six minutes to make it 54-50 with 7:59 left to play.
The teams traded baskets through the next five minutes, with the Orange maintaining an edge of at least four points, until Jerome Dyson trifecta cut the lead to one, 61-60, with 2:59 remaining.
Dyson duplicated the three-pointer, tying the game at 65 with 2:53 left in regulation. Wes Johnson netted a pair of free throws to break the deadlock, 67-65, with 34 seconds remaining.
The Orange defense thwarted the Huskies next attempt, as Joseph brought down the rebound off an errant three-point shot and was fouled on the play. Joseph netted two shots from the charity stripe to push the lead to 69-65, before Walker tallied a driving layup through traffic to pull UConn back within a basket, 69-67.
Syracuse connected on a trio of free throws, a pair by Joseph and one by Jardine, to cement the victory, 72-67.
Johnson rounded out the double-digit scorers, tallying 13 points and a team-best nine rebounds.
Senior Andy Rautins paired eight points with a trio of rebounds and five assists while freshman Brandon Triche also had eight points with two rebounds and four assists.
Onuaku tallied seven points with a team-best nine rebounds while adding a game-high and career-best six blocked shots. Jardine rounded out the scoring for SU, netting seven points while dishing out five helpers.
The Orange returns to the court against Louisville on Sunday, February 14 with tipoff set for 1 p.m.
