Battle Leads Orange Past Wake Forest

Sunday, February 11

1 PM

Syracuse University

(17-8) (6-6)

Wake Forest

(9-16) (2-11)

Wake Forest

Syracuse

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

2/11/2018 4:14:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Sophomore Tyus Battle scored Syracuse's first seven points and finished with a game-high 34 to lead the Orange past Wake Forest, 78-70, in the Carrier Dome on Sunday, Feb. 11. The win was the second in a row for Syracuse as it improved to 17-8 overall, 6-6 in league play.

HOW IT WAS DECIDED
The Orange led by as many as 14 in the second half, including a 50-36 advantage with 11:05 on the clock. Wake Forest (9-16, 2-11) used a barrage of 3-pointers to mount a comeback as the Demon Deacons hit four straight from behind the arc to cut the deficit to six, 54-48, with 9:42 remaining.

Syracuse extended the lead back to 10, 65-55, but Wake Forest wouldn't go away and scored eight straight points to get within two, 65-63, at the 4:24 mark. A free throw by freshman Oshae Brissett put the Orange up five, 73-68 with 49 seconds remaining, but a basket by Keyshawn Woods with 30 seconds left cut the lead to 74-70.

Battle sealed the victory with a pair of free throws and a dunk after a Paschal Chukwu block on Wake Forest's next possession for the 78-70 final.

OF NOTE
Battle was 3-for-4 from 3-point range and 11-for-13 from the free throw line on his way to his second 30-point performance on the season. He tallied a career-high 37 points in the Orange's overtime clash at Florida State on Jan. 13. In addition, Battle dished out a personal-best four assists.

Brissett and junior Frank Howard joined Battle in double figures in scoring. Brissett recorded his eighth double-double of the year with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Howard had 12 points to go along with nine assists and five steals. Chukwu led the teams on the boards with 11 rebounds.

Syracuse held a 30-18 advantage in points in the paint and went 26-for-39 from the free throw line. Wake Forest's comeback attempt was aided by its outside shooting in the second half as it went 9-for-13 from 3-point range after halftime after connecting on just 1-of-10 attempts in the first half.

UP NEXT
Syracuse hosts NC State on Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 9 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. Tickets can be purchased online at Cuse.com, by phone at 1-888-DOMETIX or at Gate B at the Carrier Dome.