'Cuse Falls To The 'Canes, 66-62

Saturday, January 24

Syracuse, N.Y.

4:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

(14-6) (5-2)

Miami

(14-5) (4-2)

Miami

Syracuse

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

1/24/2015 6:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Christmas' 18 points in the second half wasn't enough to overcome Miami

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Rakeem Christmas scored 23 points, including 18 in the second half, but Syracuse (14-6, 5-2 ACC) could not hold off Miami (14-5, 4-2 ACC) in the Carrier Dome and was defeated, 66-62. An announced crowd of 30,677 was the largest in college basketball this season.

In what was an even battle throughout, the Hurricane bench and free throw shooting gave it the edge over the Orange. Despite Syracuse holding Miami's top scorer, Sheldon McClellan, to just seven points, the Hurricanes were able to muster 15 points from its bench compared to Syracuse's three. Miami was also able to make its free throws when it needed to, hitting 10-of-14 while Syracuse was successful on 8-of-19 attempts, missing five in the final 3:30 of play.

'Canes Can't Stop Christmas
It was evident from the opening tip that the Miami defense focused on stopping Christmas, holding him to just five points and a 2-of-5 performance from the floor in the first. But its success didn't last as he penetrated Miami's defense for 18 of Syracuse's 36 points in the second frame.

Trevor Cooney hit three buckets from beyond the arc en route to his 14-point effort while Tyler Roberson tallied 10 points and a team-leading 14 boards for his fourthdouble-double and his sixth game this season with 10 rebounds or more. Michael Gbinije finished the game a point shy of his seventh straight game scoring in double-figures.

Weathering The Storm
Miami jumped out to a 10-1 lead in the first five minutes of play but a brief scoring drought allowed the Orange to pull within three with an 11-4 run. The burst of scoring resulted in Miami heating up with a 7-0 burst of its own. However, its success was short lived as the Syracuse defense held the Hurricanes to just two points in the final 8:25 of the half while using a 12-2 surge to tie the contest at 26.

Roberson led the way for the Orange netting eight points while corralling as many rebounds. Fellow big man Christmas drew a lot of attention from the 'Canes defense but managed to fight for five points while Cooney knocked down seven from the perimeter.

'Cuse Effort Falls Short Of The 'Canes
Firing out of intermission, the Hurricanes used a 10-4 run to break the tie and take a 39-30 lead. Miami built its lead to as many as 12 but with 11:32 left to play, 'Cuse began its comeback. Christmas and his offense came alive as he banged around the boards for six points in a 14-5 surge to cut Miami's lead to three with 6:40 to go.

Syracuse was able to pull within two on two occasions thanks to a wide open three from Ron Patterson and a Christmas jumper. However, Miami was able to absorb both blows holding 'Cuse at bay until Christmas was successful on a left hook-shot to cut the Hurricane lead to one with 54-ticks remaining to force a Miami timeout.

On the following possession the 'Canes found Manu Lecomte for a three to take a four-point advantage but Gbinije found Cooney on the other end to counter with a three-point bucket of their own.

The Hurricanes then extended its lead to three with to two free throws by Angel Rodriguez, giving Syracuse just 11-seconds to make a final push. In an attempt to tie the game, Cooney ran the length of the court off the inbound to throw up a three that fell short of the rim, allowing Miami to close the game with a 66-62 victory.

Battle In Chapel Hill
Next, the Orange heads to Chapel Hill to take on North Carolina on Monday, January 26 at 7:00 p.m.