Roberson Paces Orange in 66-55 Victory

Saturday, November 21

Syracuse, N.Y.

7:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

(3-0)

Elon

(2-2)

Elon

Syracuse

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

11/21/2015 8:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Junior forward Tyler Roberson had a career-high 20 points and 16 rebounds to lead Syracuse (3-0) past Elon (2-2), 66-55, on Saturday evening in the Carrier Dome. The contest was part of the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament.

Grad student Michael Gbinije went 3-of-3 from the 3-point arc and ended the night with 16 points, six rebounds, and four steals. Freshman Malachi Richardson racked up 13 points, going 10-of-12 from the free throw line.

A three by Gbinije started things off for the Orange, marking the third straight game Syracuse's opening basket has come from long distance. The Orange jumped out to a 12-2 lead with an old-fashioned three-point play by Roberson topping a nine-point run, six minutes into the game.

The Phoenix soon played its way back into the game, with a 3-pointer by Dainan Swoope and a basket off of a Syracuse turnover bringing Elon within four with 9:02 left in the first half, 17-13. Elon continued on its run with another 3-point basket by Swoope to cut the Syracuse lead down to one, 19-18, at the 7:46 mark.

Two free-throws brought the Phoenix its first lead of the game with 4:37 left to play in the opening half, 20-19, as Elon held Syracuse scoreless for nearly four minutes. The Orange bounced back, however, taking off on a 9-3 run in the final minutes of the first half to bring Syracuse a six- point lead going into the locker room, 29-23.

Roberson paced Syracuse in the first 20 minutes, scoring nearly half of the Orange's 29 points with 14 of his own.

The Orange and the Phoenix traded a few buckets to open the second half, before a three by Elon's Luke Eddy evened out the score at the 34-point mark four minutes in. Neither team seemed to be able to take control of the lead, until the Orange took charge with a 10-point run which gave Syracuse a 39-47 lead with 11 minutes left to play.

The Orange allowed a few more Phoenix buckets, but the momentum continued in Syracuse's favor, as a jumper by Roberson and a subsequent three by Gbinije off of an Elon turnover seconds after extended the Orange lead 54-45.

Elon held Syracuse scoreless for nearly five minutes before two free-throws by Richardson halt a seven-point Phoenix run to bring the Orange back to an eight-point advantage, 63-55.

Two final free-throws by Gbinije and one by Richardson sealed a 66-55 victory for the Orange.

Syracuse travels to the Bahamas for its next Battle 4 Atlantis matchup, taking on Charlotte on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 2:30 p.m.

The team's next home game is Wednesday, December 2, when Syracuse hosts Wisconsin in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Tickets are available at the Dome Box Office or by calling 1-888-DOME-TIX.