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Syracuse University
University of South Florida
Orange Tames Bulls 72-49
2/5/2011 2:52:13 PM | Men's Basketball
Syracuse 72, South Florida 49
TAMPA, Fla. – Senior Rick Jackson scored a season high 21 points to lead 17/17 Syracuse (20-4, 7-4) to its 14th consecutive 20-win season against South Florida (8-16, 2-9) at the St. Petersburg Times Forum on Saturday.
The win was number 849 for Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim and gave the hall of famer a NCAA Division I record 33 20-win seasons.
Jackson recorded his 16th double-double of the season, adding 12 rebounds to his game high 21 points, and dished out four assists. Junior Kris Joseph and freshman Dion Waiters rounded out SU's players in double-figures with 14 and 10, respectively.
Syracuse opened the second half with a 10-2 run to regain its double-digit lead, 47-31, with 16 minutes to play. South Florida would not go away and cut SU's lead to 10, 49-39 at the 11:29 mark.
The two teams traded baskets for the next six minutes, but SU exploded with a 10-0 run, compliments of five points from Joseph, to make it 71-47 with 35 seconds remaining in regulation.
The first eight minutes of the afternoon featured four lead changes and the game was tied on three occasions. Jackson had five of SU's first 13 points during that stretch as the Orange led 13-11 at the 12:09 mark of the first half.
The Orange scored 12 unanswered points to take a 22-11 lead with 8:01 remaining in the opening period. Freshman #C.J. Fair# and Joseph each scored four points during the run to give SU its first double-digit lead of the contest.
USF's Hugh Robertson ended SU's streak with a three-point play, but the Orange maintained its double-digit lead, 32-22, with 3:20 left in the first half. The Bulls cut Syracuse's lead to six, 32-26, at the 2:32 mark.
SU outscored USF 5-2 in the final two minute to hold a nine point advantage at the break.
Syracuse outmatched South Florida in nearly every statistical category. The Orange shot a season high 18-23 (.783) from the free throw line. Jackson (12) and Fair (9) combined for 21 rebounds to help SU hold a 41-27 advantage on the glass. Syracuse forced 12 Bulls turnovers and committed just eight of its own.
Sixteen of SU's 25 field goals were assisted, led by junior Scoop Jardine's eight assists.
South Florida, led by head coach Stan Heath, was paced by Jarrid Famous' 14 points and eight rebounds.
Syracuse will return to the friendly confines of the Carrier Dome to host 13/14 Georgetown on Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. SU fans can catch the Orange against the Hoyas on ESPN. Tickets can be purchased online, over the phone at 888-DOMETIX or in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office during normal business hours. For additional information, fans can contact the Carrier Dome Box Office toll free 888-366-3849 or 315-443-2121.
