No. 1 Orange and Green Wave Meet Thursday

Syracuse vs. Tulane
Game Details	Thursday, Dec. 22 \| Syracuse, N.Y. \| 7 p.m. Carrier Dome \| Tickets
Game Coverage	TV: Time Warner Cable Sports/SNY \| Radio: WTKW 99.5 FM Orange All Access: Audio \| Live Stats Twitter: @suorangeempire
Syracuse Links	Notes \| News \| Roster \| Schedule
Tulane Links	Notes \| News \| Roster \| Schedule

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – No. 1 Syracuse plays its third game in six days when it hosts Tulane on Thursday, Dec. 22 in the Carrier Dome. Tipoff is schedule for 7 p.m. The Orange is one of six unbeaten schools in Division I with a 12-0 record, while the Green Wave enters Thursday's game with a mark of 11-1.

Tickets for Thursday's game are available online, by phone (1-888-DOMETIX) or in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office. Time Warner Cable Sports and SNY 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.

MELO MAKING STRIDES
After just 12 games this season, sophomore Fab Melo has already surpassed many of his seasons totals from last year. Melo has scored 79 points this season, two more than he scored in 33 games in his freshman campaign. He ranks second on the team in rebounds with 65 after pulling down 64 in 2010-11. In addition, Melo has recorded a career-high 29 blocked shots.

ON A ROLL
Syracuse has opened the season with 12 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.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ORANGE
Three players reached double figures in scoring to lead top-ranked Syracuse to an 80-61 victory against Bucknell on Tuesday, Dec. 20.

The visitors enjoyed its only lead of the game at 2-0 as sophomore Rakeem Christmas scored Syracuse's first seven points. The Orange built its lead throughout the first half and led 39-22 at halftime.

Syracuse did not allow Bucknell to get closer than 13 points in the second half, and Matt Omaszewski's three-pointer in the closing seconds the Orange a 19-point victory and its 12th consecutive win to start the season.

Senior Kris Joseph led all scorers with 17 points, while senior Scoop Jardine added 14 points. Christmas finished with a career-high 10 points.

SCOUTING THE GREEN WAVE
Tulane started the season with nine consecutive wins, including a 57-52 victory against Georgia Tech, before losing to Wofford. The Green Wave quickly returned to its winning ways, defeating MacMurry and Jacksonville State.

Four players are averaging double figures in scoring for Tulane. Kendall Timmons, a 2010-11 All-Conference USA second-team selection, leads the way with 13.3 points per game, while Ricky Tarrant is contributing 12.3 points per contest. Josh Davis is Tulane's leading rebounder, averaging 10.2 per game to go along with 12.1 points a game. Jordan Callahan, who averages 10.7 points per game, leads the squad with 22 steals.

Ed Conroy is in his second season at the helm of the Tulane program. Last season, the Green Wave started the season 12-4, its best start since 1994-95. Tulane lost two starters to injuries and finished the year with a 13-17 overall record. Prior to taking over the helm at Tulane, Conroy spent four years as the head coach at The Citadel.

THE SERIES
Thursday's game will be the second all-time meeting between the two schools. Syracuse defeated Tulane, 73-60, on Dec. 1, 2007 in the Carrier Dome.

UP NEXT…
The Orange opens BIG EAST play on Wednesday, Dec. 28 against Seton Hall. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

Syracuse University Athletics

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