SU Loses to UL in BIG EAST Championship

Saturday, March 16

New York, N.Y.

8:30 p.m.

Syracuse University

26-9

Louisville

29-5

SYRACUSE

LOUISVILLE

3/16/2013 8:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Louisville 78, Syracuse 61 | Post-Game Quotes | Post-Game Notes

NEW YORK – The Orange held a double-digit lead into the second half, but #4/4 Louisville rallied down the stretch to beat #19/20 Syracuse, 78-61, in the BIG EAST Tournament Championship game at Madison Square Garden.

Junior C.J. Fair led the offense with his 28th double-digit scoring performance of the season, tallying 21 points. Sophomore Michael Carter-Williams added 11 points. Senior James Southerland posted nine points, including three three-pointers to set the BIG EAST Tournament record with a combined total of 17 in four games.

After leading by 13 at the half, the Orange opened up its largest lead of the game at 16, 45-29, with 15:34 remaining in the second half. Fair and Southerland hit consecutive three-point field goals for the Orange in the run.

The Cardinals regrouped and began their comeback with five straight free throws and a three-pointer from Russ Smith, making the score at 45-37. Louisville then went on a 13-0 run, featuring four consecutive free throws and a three-pointer from Kevin Ware, that put the Cardinals up by eight, 56-48, with 8:53 remaining in the game.

Syracuse came out firing, scoring eight unanswered points to open the contest, including back-to-back three-pointers from junior C.J. Fair and senior James Southerland.

After Louisville scored five straight points, Southerland answered with his second three-pointer of the evening to put SU up by six, 11-5, with 14:06 remaining in the opening frame.

Louisville's Montrezl Harrell scored six of the Cardinals eight points in an 8-2 run to get within two, 17-15, before Syracuse went on a 14-3 scoring run to open a 31-18 lead with less than three minutes remaining in the half. Carter-Williams led the team during the stretch with nine consecutive points.