No. 1 Orange vs. Bucknell Tonight at 7 p.m.

Syracuse vs. Bucknell
Game Details	Tuesday, Dec. 20 \| Syracuse, N.Y. \| 7 p.m. Carrier Dome \| Tickets
Game Coverage	TV: ESPNU \| Radio: WTKW 99.5 FM Orange All Access: Audio \| Live Stats Twitter: @suorangeempire
Syracuse Links	Notes \| News \| Roster \| Schedule
Bucknell Links	Notes \| News \| Roster \| Schedule

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – No. 1/1 Syracuse returns to the Carrier Dome to take on Bucknell on Tuesday, Dec. 20. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Orange (11-0) is looking to extend its winning streak to 12, while the Bisons (7-4) have won their last two contests.

Tickets for Tuesday's game are available online, by phone (1-888-DOMETIX) or in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office. ESPNU will televise the matchup live. Fans can also follow the action on the Syracuse IMG 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.

WE'RE STILL THE ONE
Syracuse retained the No. 1 ranking in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Coaches polls. The Orange earned 53 first-place votes and 1,585 points in the Associated Press poll. Ohio State is ranked second. The Buckeyes received five first-place votes and 1,474 points. In the media poll, Syracuse received 30 of 31 possible first-place votes and 774 points. Ohio State had one-first place vote and 713 points.

AND THEN THERE WERE SIX
The Orange is one of six Division I squads that are undefeated this season. The elite group includes fellow BIG EAST member Louisville, along with Murray State, Missouri, Indiana and Baylor. Syracuse has opened the season with 11 straight wins for the third consecutive year. The Orange started last season by winning its first 18 games, which marked the second-best start in school history. SU was one win away from equaling the program's best start of 19-0 in 1999-2000.

THE NATION'S LEADERS
Syracuse ranks first in the country in steals per game and turnover margin. The Orange is averaging 11.6 steals per game. East Carolina ranks second, with 11.0 steals per contest. SU's 8.6 turnover margin is the best in Division I. Ohio State is second (8.0).

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ORANGE
The Orange registered its first true road win of the season with an 88-72 victory at North Carolina State on Saturday, December 17 to extend its winning streak to 11 games to start the season. Syracuse's bench accounted for 46 of its 88 points.

The Wolfpack jumped out to an early lead in the first 13 minutes of the game and led 29-23. A layup by sophomore Dion Waiters sparked the Orange on a 23-0 run to take control of the half. Senior Kris Joseph hit a three pointer to give SU its first lead at 30-29, which was followed by back-to-back three's by junior James Southerland. Syracuse was 8-for-15 from behind the arc in the first half and led 47-33 at intermission.

North Carolina State outscored Syracuse, 17-3, to open the second half and tied the game at 50-50. After the teams traded baskets, sophomore #C.J. Fair#'s offensive rebound and put back gave SU the lead for good at 56-54. The Orange hit nine of its last 10 shots to pull away from the Wolfpack.

Waiters finished with a career-high 22 points, while Joseph tallied a season-best 21 points. Scoop Jardine, Fair and Southerland also reached double figures in scoring with 16, 11 and 11 points, respectively.

SCOUTING THE BISONS
Bucknell enters Tuesday's game on a two-game winning streak, which has raised its record to 7-4. After losing their first two games of the season, the Bisons won five straight before losing to George Mason and LaSalle. Bucknell is back on the winning track after defeating Binghamton and Richmond.

Four Bisons are averaging double figures in scoring, led by Cameron Ayers' 13.2 points per game. Ayers was a member of the Patriot League All-Rookie Team last season. The 2010-11 Patriot League Player of the Year Mike Muscala is scoring 13.0 points per game and leads the squad on the boards, grabbing 9.2 rebounds per contest. The group also includes Joe Willman (11.0 ppg) and Bryson Johnson (10.3 ppg).

Dave Paulsen is in his fourth year at the helm of the Bucknell program. Last season he guided the Bisons to a 25-win season, a Patriot League championship and an NCAA Tournament berth. Prior to joining the Bucknell staff, Paulsen was the head coach at Williams College, where he led his squad to the 2003 Division III national championship and earned two national coach of the year awards.

THE SERIES
Syracuse leads the all-time series with Bucknell, 8-1. The Orange won the first eight meetings between the two schools before the Bisons defeated SU, 74-69, on Nov. 22, 2005 in the Carrier Dome.

UP NEXT…
The Orange is back in action on Thursday, Dec. 22 when it hosts Tulane at 7 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.

Syracuse University Athletics

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