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Syracuse University
University of Cincinnati
Orange Outlasts Bearcats, 71-54
2/7/2010 4:13:08 PM | Men's Basketball
Syracuse 71, Cincinnati 54
CINCINNATI – #3/4 Syracuse (23-1, 10-1) used a late game rally to defeat Cincinnati (14-9, 5-6), 71-54, at Fifth Third Arena on Sunday afternoon. The win extended SU's win streak to 10 games, including nine league contests and kept the Orange a perfect 9-0 away from the Carrier Dome this season.
All seven players who participated scored for Syracuse, including four in double-digits. Senior Andy Rautins led SU with a game-best 20 points while sophomore Kris Joseph added 15 points, four rebounds and three steals off the bench.
After trading baskets to open the game, Cincinnati scored nine unanswered points to take an 11-2 lead with 15:16 left on the clock. Arinze Onuaku ended the Orange drought with a hooking layup, sparking a 15-2 Syracuse run. Five different players logged points in the SU scoring streak, which was led by Onuaku with six.
Cincinnati answered with a quick six points to regain the lead, 21-17, before Rautins connected from three point range and Joseph netted a free throw to tie the game at 21 with 6:06 left to play in the first half.
The Bearcats netted the next five points before back-to-back three's by Rautins and Scoop Jardine swung the lead back into Syracuse's favor, 27-26. The Orange outscored Cincinnati, 5-4, through the remainder of the half to head into the locker room with a 32-30 advantage.
The back-and-forth play heated up out of intermission, as the teams tied on three occasions while exchanging the lead three times in the first seven minutes of the second half.
Cincinnati netted the first basket out of the break before a 6-0 run put Syracuse ahead, 38-32. The Bearcats responded, compiling a 10-3 streak to steal the lead, 42-41, with 15:01 left on the clock.
Wes Johnson knocked down a pair of shots from the charity stripe to swing the lead back in SU's favor, 43-42. Cincinnati reclaimed the lead for a second time in the half, using a 7-0 run to go ahead, 49-43 with 12:25 remaining.
The Orange outscored the Bearcats, 28-5, through the remainder of the game to seal the 71-54 victory.
Jardine and Onuaku added 11 points each for the Orange. Jardine matched his scoring performance with three rebounds and a team-best six assists in a reserve role while Onuaku corralled six boards.
Junior Rick Jackson paired seven points with a game-best 10 rebounds while Johnson had five points, three rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals.
Ibrahima Thomas led Cincinnati with 13 points while Yancy Gates netted 11 and Lance Stephenson rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10.
Syracuse returns home to host Connecticut as part of ESPN's Rivalry Week on Wednesday, February 10 at 7 p.m.
