Syracuse University
Villanova University
Jardine Lifts SU Past Villanova, 69-64
2/21/2011 7:39:40 PM | Men's Basketball
Syracuse 69, Villanova 64
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Junior Scoop Jardine scored a team-best 20 points in front of a hometown crowd as 17/20 Syracuse (23-6, 10-6) edged 15/14 Villanova (21-7, 9-6), 69-64, on Monday at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Philadelphia, Pa. native also added six assists and four rebounds.
Senior Rick Jackson netted 18 points, including a game-high five dunks, and grabbed five rebounds. Jackson helped the Orange hold a 30-16 advantage in the paint. Sophomore Brandon Triche rounded out SU's players in double-figures with 11 points and six boards.
The 'Cats constructed a 9-2 run and trailed by just two, 55-53, with 6:15 remaining in the second half. Jardine scored six consecutive points to maintain SU's lead, 61-56, with four minutes to play. 'Nova guard Corey Stokes struck again from behind the arc and the Wildcats cut The Orange's lead to one, 61-60, at the 2:38 mark.
With 52 seconds remaining in regulation, Triche increased Syracuse's lead to five, 65-60. Villanova fought back to pull within one, 65-64, with 22 seconds left. Freshman Dion Waiters and Jackson each sank a pair of free-throws to produce the final score of 69-64.
Syracuse trailed 6-0 in the early minutes of the contest, but the Orange scored nine unanswered points to take the lead. Jardine provided a boost after SU missed its first five shots, netting seven of SU's first nine points.
Syracuse's defense continued to slow Villanova's offense and the Orange held a 15-11 advantage at the 8:34 mark. A three-pointer by Waiters gave SU a 20-13 lead with 5:37 remaining. On the Wildcats next possession, Stokes responded with a three-pointer and cut Syracuse's lead to four.
Jardine quickly drained a shot from behind the arc to make it 23-16. The two teams traded baskets and the Orange led 29-22 with one minute left on the clock.
Villanova scored the last five points of the opening period to cut SU's lead to two, 29-27, at the break.
Syracuse recorded the first six points of the second half to make it 35-29, but Villanova scored the next five to pull within one, 35-34. A 9-2 run, compliments of five points from Triche and four from Jackson, produced SU's largest lead of the night, 47-38 at the 13-minute mark.
Syracuse shot 26-55 (.473) from the field and held the Wildcats to just 21-65 (.328) overall. The Orange also converted 13-of-17 (.765) shots from the charity stripe.
Villanova, led by head coach Jay Wright, was paced by Stokes' 24 points including five three-pointers.
Syracuse will travel to Washington, D.C. to take on #11 Georgetown on Saturday, February 26 at 12 p.m. in its last road game of the regular-season. Syracuse fans can catch the Orange against the Hoyas on CBS.
