SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- No. 2 /2 Syracuse (25-1, 12-1) broke open a close game with a 22-6 scoring run during the final 6:30 of action to record an 85-67 victory against -/rv Connecticut (15-9, 5-7) in the Carrier Dome on Saturday, Feb. 11. SeniorScoop Jardine scored 11 points during the decisive run on his way to a season-high 21.
The game was played in front of a crowd of 33,430 fans. It is the largest crowd in college basketball this season and the fourth-largest to see a game in the Carrier Dome.
Jardine was 8-for-9 from the floor, including 4-for-4 from three-point range. He helped the Orange to its best shooting performance from three-point range this season as SU hit 62.5 percent (10-for-16) of its shots from behind the arc. Jardine was one of four players to reach double figures in scoring for Syracuse. Sophomore Dion Waiters scored 18 points off the bench, while Kris Joseph had 15 points. Sophomore C.J. Fair recorded his first career double-double with 14 points and a career-high 12 rebounds.
The Orange led by nine at halftime and quickly increased its lead to 11 in the first minute of the second half. Connecticut chipped away at the deficit and pulled to within two at 54-52 on a three-point play by Tyler Olander with 12:37 to play. The Orange built its lead back to nine at 61-52, but the Huskies had another run in them, cutting Syracuse’s advantage to 63-61 with 6:26 to play.
Jardine dominated the final six minutes of the game. He hit back-to-back three-pointers to extend SU’s lead to 69-61 and put the game out of reach. After a basket by Connecticut’s Shabazz Napier, Waiters continued Syracuse’s scoring run with three straight points before Jardine hit a layup to increase the lead to 74-62 with 3:01 remaining. Waiters followed with two more baskets and Jardine connected on his fourth three-pointer of the game to give the Orange a 19-point advantage. Syracuse converted 4-of-6 attempts from the free throw line in the final minute on its way to its 17th consecutive victory at home this season.
Connecticut hit four of its first five shots to start the game and jumped out to a 10-5 lead. The Orange responded with five consecutive points, and Brandon Triche’s three-pointer tied the game for the second time. The squads traded baskets before Jardine hit a free throw to give Syracuse its first lead of the game and spark the Orange on an 11-1 scoring run. Jardine had four points during the run, which was capped by a Fair dunk on an alley-oop pass from Jardine that gave SU a 25-15 lead with 8:22 on the clock.
With Syracuse leading by nine, 30-21, the Huskies scored five consecutive points to cut the lead to four, forcing an Orange timeout at the 4:31 mark. The Orange extended its lead to six, but Connecticut came back and a pair of Jeremy Lamb free throws cut SU’s advantage to 37-34 with 1:41 left to play. Triche hit a jumper with 1:40 remaining as the Orange netted the final six points of the half to take a 43-34 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Syracuse held a slight advantage on the boards (31-29) and scored 22 points off of 14 Connecticut turnovers. SU’s bench was again a major factor in the win, outscoring the Huskies’ bench, 36-9.
The Orange has a quick turnaround as it is back in action on Monday, Feb. 13 when it travels to Louisville to take on the Cardinals at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
Previously Reported:
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Rivalry week continues for No. 2/2 Syracuse when it hosts Connecticut on Saturday, Feb. 10. Tipoff in the Carrier Dome is set for 1 p.m. The Orange enters the contest with a 24-1 overall record and leads the BIG EAST with an 11-1 mark in conference games. The Huskies are 15-8 overall, 5-6 in the BIG EAST.
JOSEPH HEATING UP Senior
Kris Joseph has scored in double figures in seven consecutive games and in 10 of the last 11 contests. He hit a career-high six three-point field goals and went 5-for-6 from the free throw line on his way to a career-best 29 points in Syracuse’s overtime win against Georgetown. Joseph, the Orange’s leading scorer this season, is averaging 15.6 points in SU’s last seven games.
ORANGE IN THE NCAA STATISTICS Syracuse continues to lead the nation in three categories. The Orange’s .960 winning percentage is the best among Division I schools. In addition, SU ranks first in assist/turnover ratio (1.56) and turnover margin (6.9). The Orange also ranks third in scoring margin (17.3), blocked shots per game (7.3) and steals per game (10.1). Individually, sophomore
Fab Melo ranks 13th in blocked shots per game (3.0).
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ORANGE Syracuse needed an overtime session but held off Georgetown and kept its record perfect at home with a 64-61 victory on Wednesday, Feb. 8. The victory was the 880th for head coach
Jim Boeheim, giving him sole possession of third place on the career coaching wins list.
After the Hoyas led 31-27 at halftime, Syracuse scored the first eight points of the second half and took a 35-31 advantage. Georgetown responded with the next six points to regain the lead with 14:32 to play in regulation. The game would be tied three more times before Syracuse went on a 6-0 run and took its largest lead of the contest at 54-48 with 4:37 on the clock. The Hoyas wouldn’t go away and outscored SU 7-1 down the stretch to even the score at 55-55.
Fab Melo blocked a shot on Georgetown’s final possession of regulation, and
Dion Waiters’ three-point attempt with two seconds on the clock was no good, forcing an overtime session.
The lead went back and forth in the extra period and the teams were tied at 61-61 with 1:20 to play.
Kris Joseph hit his sixth three-pointer of the game with 29 seconds remaining to give SU the lead for good.
Scoop Jardine stole the ball on Georgetown’s last possession as Syracuse recorded the 64-61 victory.
Joseph led the Orange with a career-high 29 points to go along with five rebounds and three steals. Melo finished with 11 points and six blocks, while
C.J. Fair added five points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES Connecticut has posted a 15-8 overall record during the 2011-12 campaign, including a 5-6 mark in the BIG EAST. The Huskies, which are coming off an 80-59 loss against Louisville, have lost five of their last six games.
Sophomore guard Jeremy Lamb leads the Huskies and ranks fifth in the BIG EAST in scoring, averaging 17.2 points per game. He also averages 4.6 rebounds a game and had eight in the Huskies’ latest win against Seton Hall. Shabazz Napier is contributing 13.1 points per game, while freshman guard Ryan Boatright, who tallied 18 points in the Huskies’ loss to Louisville, is averaging 10.4 points per game. Andre Drummond is Connecticut’s leading rebounder, grabbing 7.5 per game.
George Blaney is taking over the reins for head coach Jim Calhoun, who is on medical leave. In his two games this season leading the Huskies, Blaney is 1-1. Connecticut defeated Seton Hall 69-46 and lost to Louisville, 80-59.
SERIES HISTORY Syracuse leads the all-time series with the Huskies, 51-36. Their last meeting was at Madison Square Garden last March in a BIG EAST tournament semifinal game. Connecticut defeated the Orange in overtime, 76-71, to advance to the finals. The Orange and the Huskies have played overtime games before, specifically a six-overtime game in the 2009 BIG EAST Tournament, which Syracuse won 127-117. Saturdy’s game will be the 88th meeting between the two teams.
UP NEXT… Syracuse will be back in action on Monday, Feb. 13 when it travels to Louisville, Ky. to take on the Cardinals at 7 p.m. The game is the first of two consecutive road games for the Orange.
