Role Player Emergence Fuels 'Cuse

Clutch free throws, unexpected scoring outputs and game-changing defense have all played a factor for Syracuse in its run through the NCAA Tournament.

The Orange are off to their 19^th Sweet 16 in program history. Though Syracuse has heavily relied on the play of junior Frank Howard, sophomore Tyus Battle and freshman Oshae Brissett, clutch performances from role players have helped fuel the Orange along the way.

Juniors Paschal Chukwu and Braedon Bayer along with freshman Marek Dolezaj have stepped up in the spotlight and have made significant contributions to keep the Orange alive.

With Syracuse clinging to a 55-54 lead over Arizona State with 39 seconds remaining in the NCAA First Four, Chukwu drained two free throws to extend the Orange lead to three. After a layup by the Sun Devils, Chukwu was fouled again on the next possession and boosted the Syracuse lead back to two with another make from the charity stripe.

"He shoots countless amounts of free throws after practice with coach Griffin," Howard said after the contest. "I've seen him knock down free throws every day so I was confident with him up there."

When the Orange held off TCU, 57-52, in the NCAA First Round, it was Dolezaj's time to shine. Dolezaj posted a game-high 17 points and grabbed four rebounds to propel the Orange to the second round.

Dolezaj kept Syracuse alive in the first half, scoring 13 points on 6-of-9 (.667) shooting, while the rest of the team shot 4-of-19 (.211) from the field and accumulated 14 points. He drained his second 3-pointer of the season as the shot clock expired to give the Orange a 23-16 lead in the first half.

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— Syracuse Basketball (@Cuse_MBB) March 17, 2018

"When Frank (Howard), Oshae (Brissett), and I all struggle to score the ball and we still come out with a win, it shows how much guys can step up on any given night," Battle said after the game. "Marek (Dolezaj) played huge tonight."

Perhaps the most unexpected performance came from Bayer in the round of 32. With 6:29 remaining in the second half against Michigan State, Howard picked up his fifth foul and Bayer was inserted into the contest.

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— Syracuse Basketball (@Cuse_MBB) March 19, 2018

Although Bayer didn't get in the scoring column, he made his presence known when he hit the floor for a loose ball with 3:33 remaining to force a tie-up. Perhaps his biggest play came in the final minutes.

Syracuse missed a jumper with under two minutes remaining, resulting in a fast break for the Spartans. Miles Bridges ran the floor for Michigan State and attempted a layup and Bayer sprinted back on defense and was there to block the shot.

"We have supreme confidence," Battle said after the win. "I have supreme confidence in my teammates. Everyone steps up, Braedon (Bayer) came in. Hasn't played much the entire year. He stepped up and played some great defense. The heart of this team is amazing."

The Orange matchup with Duke on Friday night at 9:37 p.m. at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska. in the Midwest Regional semifinals. Syracuse will need a collective effort in order to survive and advance.

Syracuse University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Tyus Battle

Braedon Bayer

Oshae Brissett

Paschal Chukwu

Marek Dolezaj

Frank Howard

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