UConn Holds Off Orange

Thursday, November 15

New York, NY

7 PM

Syracuse University

2-1

Connecticut

3-0

Syracuse

Connecticut

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

11/15/2018 9:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Boeheim Press Conference Battle Press Conference Carey Press Conference Photo Gallery

NEW YORK - Freshman guard and New York native Jalen Carey scored a career-best 26 points but it wasn't enough as the Syracuse men's basketball team fell to Connecticut (3-0) in the 2K Empire Classic to benefit the Wounded Warrior Foundation at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night. The No. 15 Orange (2-1) will play No. 13 Oregon (2-1) on Friday at 4:30 p.m.

Carey went off in the second half picking up 17 points on a 7-of-8 shooting performance, and grabbing six of his seven rebounds. Tyus Battle and Elijah Hughes joined Carey in double-digits with 16 and 15, respectively.

HOW IT HAPPENED
With under two minutes to go in the second half, UConn held a 10-point, 76-66, lead over the Orange. Syracuse cut the deficit in half, 76-71, in a matter of 20 seconds on a pair of baskets from Battle and Carey. The Huskies ended the game on seven free throws and forced two late three-point misses from the Orange.

HUSKIES COME OUT FAST
The Huskies came out fast opening the game with a 13-4 lead on a 5-of-9 performance. Syracuse responded with an 8-0 run, tying the game 13-13. The game remained tied, 20-20, following eight consecutive free throws between the two teams. Back-to-back baskets from the Huskies gave them a five-point, 25-20, lead before three Syracuse free throws held the deficit to a single possession. The Orange forced five ties in the first half, but the Huskies continued to find a response shooting 13-of-27 (48.15 percent) in the first half.

SYRACUSE SHAVES 10-POINT DEFICIT
Syracuse shaved a 13-point UConn lead to single digits, 62-54, on an 8-3 run that Battle capped off with a fast break layup in the paint. The Huskies continued to try to break away, reaching a double-digit lead for the sixth time in the half, but the Orange continued to chip away. Hughes sunk his third three of the night following a layup from Battle, cutting the deficit in half, 66-61. Syracuse looked to find an answer for UConn's scoring efforts as back-to-back baskets from Carey and Battle pulled the score within four, 70-66. The Orange pulled within five points or less on four different occasions in the final five minutes of the game.

COACH BOEHEIM'S THOUGHTS
"I think the one thing that came out of this was Jalen played with a lot of poise. He played a tremendous game."

OF NOTE

UConn shot 28-of-57 (49.1 percent) including a 12-of-21 (57.1 percent) performance from beyond the arc. The Orange were 26-of-66 (39.4) with six three-pointers.
Both teams combined for 31 turnovers as the Orange capitalized, scoring 16 points of UConn's 20 turnovers.
UConn was led by Jalen Adams and Alterique Gilbert with 16 points each as Tarin Smith and Eric Cobb had 14 and 13, respectively, off the bench.
With three blocks, Paschal Chukwu has recorded 10 on the young 2018-19 season.

UP NEXT
The Orange will conclude play in the 2K Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden on Friday, Nov. 15 at 4:30 p.m. Syracuse will take on either No. 14 Oregon or Iowa.