Syracuse University
University of Louisville
Late Comeback Not Enough For Orange at Louisville
2/12/2011 1:05:03 PM | Men's Basketball
Louisville 73, Syracuse 69 | Coach Boeheim Quotes
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Sophomore Brandon Triche scored a season-high 21 points in No. 12/13 Syracuse's 73-69 setback to No. 16/15 Louisville on Saturday, February 12 at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky. The Orange (20-6, 7-6), which trailed by as many as 20 points in the second half, cut the Cardinals' (19-6, 8-4) lead to three with 1:37 to play, but couldn't overcome the deficit.
Triche was 7-for-13 from the field, including 4-for-9 from three-point range, and hit all three of his free throw attempts. He was one of three players to score in double figures for Syracuse. Junior Scoop Jardine finished with 20 points, while freshman #C.J. Fair# came off the bench to score 11 points.
Louisville outscored Syracuse, 17-7, to start the second half and took its largest lead of the game at 57-37 with 15:29 to play. Triche hit his second three-point field goal of the half, starting the Orange on a 9-2 scoring run that cut Louisville's advantage to 59-46 at the 12:41 mark. Triche had six points during the run. With SU trailing, 64-46, Triche again sparked the Orange offense with a three-pointer as Syracuse scored nine of the game's next 12 points. Senior Rick Jackson had five points during that stretch that brought the Orange to within nine at 67-58 with 6:55 to play.
After a Cardinals' basket, junior Kris Joseph and Jardine hit back-to-back three-pointers and Triche converted a layup to cut the lead to 69-66 with 1:37 on the clock. UofL's Chris Smith converted two foul shots with 21 seconds left to increase the lead to 71-66. Triche tried to make it a one possession game, but his long three-point attempt rolled around the rim and then out. The Cardinals' Petyon Siva grabbed the rebound and was fouled, sending him to the free throw line. He converted one free throw attempt, giving Louisville a 72-66 advantage with 13 seconds remaining. Jardine hit a three-pointer with 6.5 seconds remaining to cut the lead to 72-69, but that was close as Syracuse could get. Siva hit another free throw with five seconds remaining for the 73-69 final.
The first nine minutes of play featured back-and-forth action, which included eight lead changes and two ties. Jardine's basket at the 10:21 mark tied the score at 17-17, and sparked Syracuse on an 11-2 scoring run that gave the Orange its biggest lead of the first half. Fair and Joseph hit back-to-back baskets, and Triche capped the run with five straight points, including three from the free throw line after being fouled on a three-point attempt, to give SU a 26-19 lead.
Louisville fought back, scoring 10 unanswered points to take a 29-26 lead with 2:19 on the clock. A pair of free throws by Fair halted the scoring run and cut the lead to 29-28, but the Cardinals hit back-to-back three-pointers and held a 37-28 advantage with 39 seconds remaining. Jardine cut the lead to 37-30 with a layup with seven seconds on the clock, allowing one more possession for Louisville. Preston Knowles hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Cardinals their largest lead of the half, 40-30, at intermission.
The Cardinals were 26-for-61(.426) from the field, including 13-for-27 (.481) from three-point range. The 13 three-point field goals are the most Syracuse has allowed in a game this season. Meanwhile, the Orange was 24-for-47 (.511) from the floor and 9-for-20 (.450) from behind the three-point arc.
Jackson, Fair and freshman Baye Moussa Keita each recorded seven rebounds, helping SU to a 34-31 advantage on the boards. Keita made his first career start in the game. Kyle Kuric led Louisville with 23 points, while Knowles added 22 points.
Syracuse returns home Monday to take on No. 25/RV West Virginia at 7 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. Tickets for the game can be purchased online, by calling 1-888-DOMETIX or by visiting the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B).
