Photo by: Charles Wainwright
Gbinije Continues Hot Stretch Against Duke
2/14/2015 9:24:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The junior erupts for a career-high 27 points.
Michael Gbinije has been on a tear of late and Saturday's contest against #4/5 Duke was no exception.
The junior, who has displayed a knack for scoring in big moments as evident by his game-winner against Virginia Tech earlier this month, went for a career-high 27 points, on a national stage, in front of a sold out Carrier Dome against the team he used to play for.
The offensive outburst was the latest in what is now a five-game trend in which he has scored no less than 16 points in any contest. The dominant stretch includes 23 and 21-point games at Pittsburgh and Boston College, respectively, in the previous two 'Cuse games.
Gbinije is averaging 12.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game this year -- the numbers jump in ACC games, where his marks are 16.2 points and 5.8 boards in 12 league contests.
"I don't know that you can do anything more than Mike is doing right now," said head coach Jim Boeheim. "He's playing great basketball. He's doing everything."
Gbinije also added six rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal in a complete 40 minutes of work against the Blue Devils on Saturday.
His five 3-pointers marked a new career high, with all-five coming in the first half.
"First half, I was feeling it," Gbinije said, recalling his 19 points in the game's initial 20 minutes. "I went after it. In the second half I came in with the same mindset, but things were just different."
Gbinije will now look to continue his hot streak in big games with Syracuse welcoming Louisville and Pittsburgh to the Carrier Dome this week.
"They're going to be tough games, we know that going into it," Gbinije said. "We're just going to come in ready to compete and come in with a winning mindset."
Tipoff for Wednesday's contest against the Cardinals is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be televised by ESPN.
The junior, who has displayed a knack for scoring in big moments as evident by his game-winner against Virginia Tech earlier this month, went for a career-high 27 points, on a national stage, in front of a sold out Carrier Dome against the team he used to play for.
The offensive outburst was the latest in what is now a five-game trend in which he has scored no less than 16 points in any contest. The dominant stretch includes 23 and 21-point games at Pittsburgh and Boston College, respectively, in the previous two 'Cuse games.
Gbinije is averaging 12.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game this year -- the numbers jump in ACC games, where his marks are 16.2 points and 5.8 boards in 12 league contests.
"I don't know that you can do anything more than Mike is doing right now," said head coach Jim Boeheim. "He's playing great basketball. He's doing everything."
Gbinije also added six rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal in a complete 40 minutes of work against the Blue Devils on Saturday.
His five 3-pointers marked a new career high, with all-five coming in the first half.
"First half, I was feeling it," Gbinije said, recalling his 19 points in the game's initial 20 minutes. "I went after it. In the second half I came in with the same mindset, but things were just different."
Gbinije will now look to continue his hot streak in big games with Syracuse welcoming Louisville and Pittsburgh to the Carrier Dome this week.
"They're going to be tough games, we know that going into it," Gbinije said. "We're just going to come in ready to compete and come in with a winning mindset."
Tipoff for Wednesday's contest against the Cardinals is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be televised by ESPN.
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