Syracuse Storms Past St. Bonaventure, 81-48

Saturday, December 29

Syracuse, NY

2 PM

Syracuse University

(9-4)

St. Bonaventure

(4-9)

St. Bonaventure

Syracuse

12/29/2018 4:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Highlights Jim Boeheim Press Conference Player Interviews Head Coach Jim Boeheim Quotes - St. Bonaventure Player Quotes - St. Bonaventure Photo Gallery

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – A near flawless performance from Tyus Battle in front of 21,968 fans led Syracuse (9-4) to an 81-48 victory over St. Bonaventure (4-9) Saturday afternoon at the Carrier Dome. The Orange's 33-point victory is its largest margin of victory since Dec. 19, 2016, when the Orange defeated Eastern Michigan by 48 points, 105-57.

Battle was perfect from the floor, going 8-of-8, and finished with a game-high 21 points. He also snatched a career-bests six steals.

Battle's 21-point outburst marked the sixth game this season where he has posted 20-or-more points. Elijah Hughes joined Battle in double-digits with 16 points. Buddy Boeheim and Marek Dolezaj both notched season-highs with 12 and nine points, respectively.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Syracuse wasted no time, opening the game with a 17-2 run on a 7-of-8 shooting performance that included 10 early points from Battle. The Orange forced six turnovers from the Bonnies in the first five minutes of the game. Syracuse tacked on a 17-4 stretch over the course of the next seven minutes to take a 41-19 lead, holding St. Bonaventure to 0-of-5 from the floor and forcing an additional seven turnovers.

SEASON-HIGH SHOOTING PERCENTAGE
The Orange pieced together one of its best performances of the season with a season-high 58.0 percent performance from the floor (29-of-50). The 29 field goals were the most made this season by 'Cuse. The defense held its own forcing, 25 turnovers by the Bonnies.

STEADY SECOND HALF
The Orange kept it going in the second half with back-to-back layups by Hughes and Dolezaj extending Syracuse's margin to a 50-25 lead. Hughes recorded 11 points in the first four minutes of the second half, helping the Orange to its largest lead of the game, 64-39. The 31-point margin was Syracuse's largest of the season since the season opener against Eastern Washington, when the Orange led at one point by 37.

OF NOTE

The Orange's 17 steals were the most since Dec. 3, 2012 against Eastern Michigan when the Orange also had 17.
The 21-point lead at halftime was the largest for the Orange since Jan. 7, 2017 against Pittsburgh. Syracuse had a 42-21 advantage at the break in that contest.
Syracuse moved to 25-4 all-time against St. Bonaventure.
St. Bonaventure's 25 turnovers were the most the Syracuse defense has forced all season.

UP NEXT
Syracuse kicks off 2019 with its ACC opener on Saturday, Jan. 5 at Notre Dame. The Orange take on the Irish for a 12 p.m. tip. Action can be seen live on Raycom.

The Orange have nine ACC games left on the home portion of the schedule. Tickets are available at www.cuse.com/tickets.