Orange Edged By Wildcats in Overtime

Saturday, January 26

Philadelphia, Pa.

11:00 a.m.

Syracuse University

(18-2, 6-1BE)

Villanova

(13-7, 4-3BE)

OT 1

Syracuse

Villanova

Senior Brandon Triche led the offense with 23 points against the Wildcats

1/26/2013 11:51:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Villanova 75, Syracuse 71 (OT)

PHILADELPHIA – Ryan Arcidiacono hit a three-pointer with three seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime and Villanova (13-7, 4-3) outscored #t3/4 Syracuse (18-2, 6-1) 14-10 in the extra session to emerge, 75-71. The Wildcats, winners over #5/5 Louisville on Wednesday, beat a top-10 team for the second straight outing.

The Orange had faced its largest deficit (12 points) of the season earlier in the game, 25-13, had taken control of the game in the second half and led by six, 61-55, with 3:36 remaining in regulation. While SU committed two turnovers, missed two field goals and failed on a free throw try the rest of the way, Villanova got a layup from Darrun Hilliard and a free throw by Maouphtaou Yarou to narrow the margin to three. Syracuse's defense force a Villanova miss with eight seconds left but Yarou got the offensive board and passed it out to Arcidiacono for the baseline three.

Villanova's James Bell took over hero duties in the extra session, canning back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Wildcats up 69-65 with 1:55 left. Brandon Triche answered with two free throws and then had a chance to tie the contest but managed to convert only one-of-two with 47 ticks on the clock.

Bell added a layup, giving him eight points in overtime. Michael Carter-Williams was fouled but, like Triche, made just one of two free throws. Villanova was four-of-six from the line in the last 19 seconds to sew up the victory.

Four Orange recorded double-figure points, led by Triche, who tallied 23 points, including 12 points in the second half. Carter-Williams totaled 17 points, while junior C.J. Fair posted 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Freshman Jerami Grant recorded 12 points, including SU's first seven of the second half, before fouling out of the game..

Sophomore Rakeem Christmas grabbed a team-high 12 boards and added nine points.
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The Wildcats jumped out to an early lead, helped out by a 10-0 run led by Villanova's Darrun Hilliard, who posted seven points during the streak. The Orange responded with a 7-0 stretch to settle the score at 10-7 with 14:59 remaining in the opening frame.

Villanova took its largest lead of the half with 7:38 remaining before the Orange rebounded from its biggest deficit of the seaso, with an 8-0 spurt to slash the Wildcat lead to 27-21.Syracuse entered the break trailing at 32-24.

Grant opened the second half with seven straight points to give Syracuse its first lead of the game at 33-32. Triche drained a three-pointer to put Syracuse ahead by one at 40-39 and SU eventually cruised ahead by five points at 44-39 with 12:43 remaining in the second period.

With the score tied at 52-52 and 6:36 remaining in the game, the Orange used a 7-0 run led by Triche, who connected on a three ball and a bucket to extend the SU advantage to six points at 59-53 with 4:06 left to play.

Hilliard paced the Wildcats with a team-high 25 points, while Yarou notched a double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds.

The Orange travel to Pittsburgh to face the Panthers on Saturday, Feb. 2 at noon.