Hughes, Sidibe Shine As Orange Cruise Past Pitt

Wednesday, February 26

Pittsburgh, PA

7 PM

Syracuse University

16-12,9-8ACC

Pittsburgh

15-14,6-12ACC

Syracuse

Pittsburgh

2/26/2020 9:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Twenty-five points from Elijah Hughes and a double-double from Bourama Sidibe helped Syracuse (16-12, 9-8 ACC) cruise past Pittsburgh (15-13, 6-12 ACC), 72-49, Wednesday night at Petersen Events Center. With the win the Orange sweep the season series with the Panthers and grab their second consecutive conference victory.

Sidibe recorded 13 points and 10 rebounds to earn his third double-double of his junior season. Hughes added nine boards which ties his season-high. Joseph Girard III was the other 'Cuse players to score in double-figures, finishing with 16 points.

DOMINANT DEFENSE TO START
The Orange were sharp defensively and aggressive on the glass to open the contest. 'Cuse limited Pittsburgh to four points in the first 5:17 of action and pulled down three offensive boards in that span, two coming from Sidibe. Offensively, each team had trouble finding an early rhythm, as the Panthers led, 9-8, after eight minutes of action. The first eight Orange points came in the paint, Sidibe pacing the squad with four.

SYRACUSE STORMS AHEAD
Syracuse built a 19-11 advantage following an 11-2 run that included seven consecutive points from Hughes. With the lead at 24-19, the Orange strung together a 9-0 run that featured two steals, three rebounds and three free throws from Sidibe, as well as four points from Girard. With 2:37 to play before the half, the Orange were ahead, 33-19.

'Cuse took a 37-21 cushion into the locker room after 20 minutes. Hughes and Sidibe tallied double-digit points in the first half, finishing with 16 and 11, respectively and Hughes hit the only Orange 3-ball. Sidibe contributed eight of Syracuse's 19 opening-half rebounds, as well as three of six steals, and Hughes added five boards of his own. Pittsburgh turned the ball over on 12 occasions in the first half and the Orange outscored the Panthers in the paint, 22-8.

'CUSE GOES INTO CRUISE CONTROL
Hughes surpassed the 20-point scoring mark and put 'Cuse on top by 18, scoring seven of the first nine Orange points along with hitting his second 3-pointer of the night. Five straight points from Brycen Goodine off the bench and two consecutive 3-balls out of the hands of Girard gave the Orange a commanding 57-32 lead with just under 13 minutes to play in regulation. Girard joined Hughes and Sidibe in double-figure scoring with the two makes, and added another with 11 minutes on the clock for his third in a row.

A 6-0 Pittsburgh burst brought it back to within 17, but Syracuse ultimately cruised to the 23-point triumph. Girard buried four shots from beyond the arc and paced the Orange with 12 points in the second half. Marek Dolezaj and Quincy Guerrier led the rebounding attack in the final 20, finishing with six and five, respectively.

Gallery: (2/26/2020) Syracuse at Pittsburgh

NOTABLE NUMBERS

Hughes eclipsed the 20-point scoring plateau for the 13^th time in the 2020 campaign with 25 points.
Sidibe scored in double figures for the first time since tallying 12 in a January 22 victory at Notre Dame.
Goodine gave the Orange a season-high four assists in 18 minutes off the bench.
Sophomore Brendan Paul knocked down a 3-pointer with :02 showing on the clock for his first points of the season.
Syracuse ended the evening with 41 rebounds, compared to 32 for the Panthers. In addition to Sidibe's 10 and Hughes' nine, Dolezaj also grabbed nine boards and Guerrier added seven.
Sidibe tied a career-high with five steals and also blocked four Pitt shots, one shy of his season-best.
The Orange scored 32 of their points in the paint. The Panthers had 18 from in close.

UP NEXT
The Orange finish their home slate with a 4 p.m. matchup against North Carolina in the Carrier Dome. Syracuse basketball legend John Wallace's jersey will be retired as part of a pregame ceremony, joining a group of 14 former Orange who have earned such distinction. The game will be televised on ESPN.
Tickets for North Carolina are on sale now online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Dome Box Office located in the Ensley Athletic Center.

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