Howard Sparks Orange Late Push to Victory

With 9:46 remaining in the game, Syracuse was hanging on to a two-point lead over Pittsburgh. A free throw by Panthers' junior Jared Wilson-Frame made the score 37-35. The Orange had led for most of the contest but couldn't pull away – that is until junior Frank Howard sparked Syracuse on a decisive scoring run that ensured its 13th win of the season.

Syracuse responded with eight unanswered points to take a 45-35 lead at the 7:23 mark. Howard had five of the eight points during the scoring run on his way to a team-high 18. He started the offensive spurt with a layup. After Tyus Battle hit a three, Howard capped the run with a steal on the defensive end and an old-fashioned 3-point play on the other. The Orange advantage grew to as many as 16 before the 59-45 final, which snapped Syracuse's four-game losing streak.

"I thought in the second half that Frank tried to use screens a little more and got in the lane, made a couple of big plays," head coach Jim Boeheim said after the game.

Howard led the team in scoring for the fifth time this season and fourth time in the last six games. He also pulled down a career-high seven rebounds against the Panthers in addition to four assists and five steals.

Tuesday's contest was just another example of Howard's overall game he has displayed this season. He now leads the ACC in steals, averaging 2.1 per game. He also ranks third in assists (5.4 apg.) and 12th in scoring (15.6 ppg.). Howard is averaging 37.5 minutes per game, which rank third in the ACC behind teammates Tyus Battle (38.2) and Oshae Brissett (38.0).

Howard and his teammates will have a week off before hosting Boston College in the Carrier Dome on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. Tickets for all Orange home games are available online at Cuse.com, by phone at 1-888-DOMETIX or in person at Gate B at the Carrier Dome.

Syracuse University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Tyus Battle

Oshae Brissett

Frank Howard

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