Solid Second Half Pushes SU Past SHU

Wednesday, March 13

New York, N.Y.

2:30 p.m.

Syracuse University

24-8

Seton Hall

15-18

Seton Hall

Syracuse

Sophomore Michael Carter-Williams tied a BIG EAST Tournament record with 14 assists in the Orange victory against Seton Hall

Photo by: BIG EAST Conference

3/13/2013 2:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Syracuse 75, Seton Hall 63 | Post-Game Quotes | BIG EAST Post-Game Notes

SYRACUSE – #19/20 Syracuse (24-8) rebounded from an early 10-point deficit to record a 75-63 triumph against Seton Hall (15-18) in the second day of the BIG EAST Conference Tournament on Wednesday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.

The Orange, in its last BIG EAST Tournament, played in its 76th game in the event, tying Georgetown for the most in history. Coach Jim Boeheim recorded his 48th BET victory, extending the standard he already owned.

Senior James Southerland led Orange offense with his ninth straight game in double-figure scoring, tallying 20 points. Southerland drained five three-pointers in the first half alone and finished with six.

Sophomore Michael Carter-Williams notched his 11^th game with double-digit assists, dishing out 14 and tying the BIG EAST Championship record for most assists in a single game. The mark had been shared by Pearl Washington (Syracuse), Mark Jackson (St. John's) and Brendin Knight (Pittsburgh).

The Orange took its first lead of the game just 15 seconds into the second half after a slam from sophomore Rakeem Christmas lifted SU ahead by two points at 36-34. Junior C.J. Fair followed with a three-pointer to build a the five-point advantage to 39-34.

Seton Hall netted two three-pointers to knot the score at 42-42, but Fair put Syracuse back on top with a pair of free throws. The Orange began pulling away with 12:45 left in the game as two jumpers from Fair and a three-pointer from Southerland moved SU ahead by seven points at 53-46.

Syracuse couldn't shake the Pirates though, as a bucket and two free throws from Seton Hall's Aaron Cosby tied the score at 46-46. SU responded with a 19-2 run to take control for good, stretching the lead to 17 points at 65-48 with less than five minutes remaining in the game. Triche and Fair led the attack, posting seven and six points, respectively, during the stretch.

SU struggled to get going in the opening minutes of the contest as the Pirates started the first six minutes of play with a 16-6 run. SU scored eight unanswered points, led by back-to-back three balls from Southerland, to come within two-points of the lead at 16-14 with 12:06 remaining in the opening frame.

Seton Hall responded with two more three pointers and a jumper to pull ahead by as much as 10 points at 24-14. Trailing by seven at 32-25, Syracuse concluded the half on an 11-4 run to enter the intermission tied, 34-34.

Syracuse is back in action at 2 p.m. tomorrow, facing off against Pittsburgh in the quarterfinal round of the BIG EAST Tournament. The Orange is 20-9 in conference quarterfinal matchups.