SU 86 Connecticut 75
 NEW YORK, NY - Preston Shumpert posted 21 of his game-high 31 points in the first half and Syracuse went on to defeat Connecticut, 86-75, in the first round of the BIG EAST Tournament.   Â
It marked Syracuse’s second victory over the Huskies this season and the Orangemen’s first BIG EAST Tournament triumph over Connecticut since 1984.   Â
Shumpert, who had scored 34 markers in the regular-season outing versus UConn, helped break open a two-point SU advantage. With the Orangemen ahead 32-30, Shumpert tallied nine of his teams next 15 points and SU went into the intermission with a nine-point margin.   Â
The Orangemen converted 18-of-32 first-half shots, including 3-of-4 three-pointers, to build the margin.   Â
Syracuse controlled the second half and led by as many as 17 points before time ran out on the Huskies. Shumpert and Allen Griffin helped SU maintain its advantage with 10 points each after the halftime break. Syracuse converted 14-of-17 second-half free throws, an 82-percent rate.   Â
Griffin tied a BIG EAST Tournament record with seven steals. The Orangemen forced 14 Connecticut turnovers in all.   Â
Damone Brown hit 8-of-11 shots from the field and both free throw attempts to finish with 18 points. Kueth Duany gave SU a boost off the bench with nine points and four rebounds in 30 minutes of work.
Â
It marked Syracuse’s second victory over the Huskies this season and the Orangemen’s first BIG EAST Tournament triumph over Connecticut since 1984.   Â
Shumpert, who had scored 34 markers in the regular-season outing versus UConn, helped break open a two-point SU advantage. With the Orangemen ahead 32-30, Shumpert tallied nine of his teams next 15 points and SU went into the intermission with a nine-point margin.   Â
The Orangemen converted 18-of-32 first-half shots, including 3-of-4 three-pointers, to build the margin.   Â
Syracuse controlled the second half and led by as many as 17 points before time ran out on the Huskies. Shumpert and Allen Griffin helped SU maintain its advantage with 10 points each after the halftime break. Syracuse converted 14-of-17 second-half free throws, an 82-percent rate.   Â
Griffin tied a BIG EAST Tournament record with seven steals. The Orangemen forced 14 Connecticut turnovers in all.   Â
Damone Brown hit 8-of-11 shots from the field and both free throw attempts to finish with 18 points. Kueth Duany gave SU a boost off the bench with nine points and four rebounds in 30 minutes of work.
Â
