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Saturday, December 22
Syracuse, NY
2 PM
Syracuse University
82
vs
52
Arkansas State
Second Half Showing Lifts Orange to Victory
12/22/2018 4:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – A strong second half showing gave Syracuse (8-4) an 82-52 victory over Arkansas State (5-7) Saturday afternoon at the Carrier Dome.
The Orange, who have been plagued this season with troubles in the second half, put it together shooting 15-of-28 (53.6 percent) in the second half including 10-of-11 from the charity stripe. Tyus Battle and Elijah Hughes led the charge with 17 points each followed by 15 points from Oshae Brissett.
Paschal Chukwu led the Orange with a season-high 13 rebounds while Brissett narrowly missed his fourth double-double of the season wrangling in nine of his own.
Arkansas State was led by Ty Cockfield's 17 points which tied a game-high. Cockfield was 5-of-14 on the night including 4-of-10 from beyond the arc. Grantham Gillard joined Cockfield in double-digits with 10 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After holding a two-point lead at the intermission, Syracuse showed out in the second. The Orange wasted no time opening the half with back-to-back baskets from Brissett and Hughes. The duo added five points each, spurring a 15-3 scoring run that included 11 unanswered points for Syracuse. With a 53-39 lead, the Orange never looked back adding a pair of free throws from Brissett and Battle's fourth dunk of the season.
Arkansas State opened the second half shooting just 2-of-13 and was unable to push through the Syracuse defensive pressure.
BRISSETT TURNS IT ON
After only contributing one point in the first half, Brissett put up a big stat line in the second half. The sophomore shot 5-of-7 for 14 points and five rebounds. Brissett also added two assists, two steals and a block in the second half. Brissett opened the second half sinking his first three field goals, and contributing on a fourth.
FIRST HALF RESPONSE
Arkansas State came out firing to open the game with an 11-point, 26-15, lead. Syracuse finally found its rhythm with a 7-0 run, pulling themselves within four. The Red Wolves went cold as Syracuse outscored Arkansas State 20-7 to end the first half. The Orange used 10 free throws over the final eight minutes of the half for its first lead since the opening two points, 35-33.
Arkansas State quickly answered with a three-pointer for a 36-35 lead, but free throws by Hughes and Battle would give the Orange the advantage.
COACH BOEHEIM'S THOUGHTS
"I thought our defense was a lot better. Paschal (Chukwu) was a difference maker. He changed shots inside, blocked shots, and got some rebounds that enabled us to get out. I thought Tyus (Battle) did a good job pushing it. Oshae (Brissett) took much better shots in the second half. He can make those shots. I thought Elijah (Hughes) saved us early when he hit those two threes when we were struggling."
OF NOTE
The Orange return to action Saturday, Dec. 29 against Saint Bonaventure at 2 p.m. for their final non-conference game of the season.
Tickets can be purchased online at Cuse.com, by phone at 1-888-DOMETIX and in person at Gate B at the Carrier Dome.
The Orange, who have been plagued this season with troubles in the second half, put it together shooting 15-of-28 (53.6 percent) in the second half including 10-of-11 from the charity stripe. Tyus Battle and Elijah Hughes led the charge with 17 points each followed by 15 points from Oshae Brissett.
Paschal Chukwu led the Orange with a season-high 13 rebounds while Brissett narrowly missed his fourth double-double of the season wrangling in nine of his own.
Arkansas State was led by Ty Cockfield's 17 points which tied a game-high. Cockfield was 5-of-14 on the night including 4-of-10 from beyond the arc. Grantham Gillard joined Cockfield in double-digits with 10 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After holding a two-point lead at the intermission, Syracuse showed out in the second. The Orange wasted no time opening the half with back-to-back baskets from Brissett and Hughes. The duo added five points each, spurring a 15-3 scoring run that included 11 unanswered points for Syracuse. With a 53-39 lead, the Orange never looked back adding a pair of free throws from Brissett and Battle's fourth dunk of the season.
Arkansas State opened the second half shooting just 2-of-13 and was unable to push through the Syracuse defensive pressure.
BRISSETT TURNS IT ON
After only contributing one point in the first half, Brissett put up a big stat line in the second half. The sophomore shot 5-of-7 for 14 points and five rebounds. Brissett also added two assists, two steals and a block in the second half. Brissett opened the second half sinking his first three field goals, and contributing on a fourth.
FIRST HALF RESPONSE
Arkansas State came out firing to open the game with an 11-point, 26-15, lead. Syracuse finally found its rhythm with a 7-0 run, pulling themselves within four. The Red Wolves went cold as Syracuse outscored Arkansas State 20-7 to end the first half. The Orange used 10 free throws over the final eight minutes of the half for its first lead since the opening two points, 35-33.
Arkansas State quickly answered with a three-pointer for a 36-35 lead, but free throws by Hughes and Battle would give the Orange the advantage.
COACH BOEHEIM'S THOUGHTS
"I thought our defense was a lot better. Paschal (Chukwu) was a difference maker. He changed shots inside, blocked shots, and got some rebounds that enabled us to get out. I thought Tyus (Battle) did a good job pushing it. Oshae (Brissett) took much better shots in the second half. He can make those shots. I thought Elijah (Hughes) saved us early when he hit those two threes when we were struggling."
OF NOTE
- The Orange won the battle of the boards for the first time in the last four games, outrebounding the Red Wolves 37-30.
- Syracuse had its most points in the first half this season with 38.
- Hughes and Chukwu both contributed two blocks, adding to the Orange's season-high of eight.
- Saturday marked Hughes' fifth straight game recording double-digit points and Battle's fourth straight.
- This was the fourth time in the last five games the Orange have had three or more double-digit scorers, including the second consecutive.
- Arkansas State's 16 second-half points are the lowest scored by an opponent this season.
- Syracuse had a 27-of-33 (81.8 percent) performance from the free throw line, its third best of the season.
- Just one game removed from suffering from 16 turnovers, the Orange had eight against the Red Wolves. The eight turnovers are the second least this season.
- For the first time this season, the Orange had 10 players score at least three points.
The Orange return to action Saturday, Dec. 29 against Saint Bonaventure at 2 p.m. for their final non-conference game of the season.
Tickets can be purchased online at Cuse.com, by phone at 1-888-DOMETIX and in person at Gate B at the Carrier Dome.
Players Mentioned
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