Syracuse Downs Wake Forest, 83-55

Saturday, January 16

Winston-Salem, NC

12:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

12-7, 2-4

Wake Forest

10-7, 1-4

Syracuse

Wake Forest

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

1/16/2016 2:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

WINSTON SALEM, N.C. - Trevor Cooney had 21 points and five 3-pointers in the first half alone and Syracuse (12-7, 2-4 ACC) picked up an important road victory at Wake Forest (10-7, 1-4), 83-55, on Saturday at JVMC Coliseum.

Cooney, a grad student, finished with a game-high 25 points, which included a season-best six 3-pointers. Junior Tyler Roberson registered his fourth double-double of the season and second consecutive, racking up 16 points and 13 rebounds.

Grad student Michael Gbinije finished the afternoon with 15 points, a total that featured five dunks, and eight rebounds. Freshman Tyler Lydon aided in the Orange's effort from 3-point range, going 3-of-4 and finishing with 11 points.

While the Orange offense equaled its season-best output with 83 points, the Syracuse defense also played a key role. Syracuse limited Wake Forest to 14-of-43 (.326) from the field, which included a 2-of-20 (.100) effort on 3-point attempts. The Orange also won the battle of the boards, 43-35.

Cooney got things started for the Orange, sinking two 3-pointers in opening back-to-back possessions to kick off a 6-0 lead. The 3-point specialist hit another one from beyond the arc at the 17:34 mark and a subsequent jumper to put 'Cuse up 11-4.

With Syracuse up 17-10, Cooney sunk yet another three to put Orange at a 10-point advantage with 12:17 left in the opening half. The shooting spree didn't stop, as Lydon registered his second 3-point bucket of the day and Cooney drained his fifth 3-pointer in the following possession to extend the lead to 19 with 10:28 left, 30-11.

Wake Forest began to pick it up, going on a 7-0 run to cut the Syracuse margin to 12 with just under eight minutes left in the half, 30-18. The Orange, however, kept the Demon Deacons at a comfortable distance, outscoring the home team 15-9 the rest of the half to bring Syracuse its largest lead of the half, 47-27, heading into the intermission.

Cooney was responsible for 21 of the Orange's 47 points, going 5-7 from 3-point range and 6-9 from the field.

The two teams traded baskets in the opening minutes of the second half, but the Orange soon extended their advantage off of a dunk by Gbinije at the 14:44 mark, 57-34. Syracuse completed a 12-4 run heading into the final 10 minutes of the contest, and in the process extended its lead to 25, 63-38.

The Orange continued to pull away, as freshman Franklin Howard got in on the scoring action with a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws to push the score to 75-43. Syracuse ended the afternoon with a 28-point margin, 83-55.

Wake Forest was paced by Devin Thomas, who finished with nine points and 13 rebounds.

The Orange have a quick turnaround after today's game as they face #9/6 Duke in Durham on Monday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m.