SYRACUSE - Hakim Warrick scored 20 points, Gerry McNamara added 18 and fourth-ranked Syracuse bounced back from its first loss of the season with an 86-56 victory Saturday night over Binghamton.
Syracuse (8-1), a loser No. 5 Oklahoma State in the Jimmy V Classic, took command early in the second half and defeated the Bearcats (2-5) for the fourth straight time since they moved up to Division I.
Sophomore guard Louis McCroskey had a career-high 11 points in his first start for the Orange, Billy Edelin had 10 and Darryl Watkins 8 to go with eight rebounds. Forward Terrence Roberts injured his right thumb in practice Friday and did not play.
Andre Heard led Binghamton with 17 points, Troy Hailey added 16 and Nick Billings 8 and eight rebounds.
Syracuse was the highest-ranked opponent the Bearcats ever faced, but the Orange didn't take charge until the second half.
Leading 36-28, Syracuse scored the first eight points after the break as the Bearcats missed their first four shots.
Binghamton fell behind 44-28 on a turnaround jumper in the lane by Warrick off a feed from center Craig Forth.
Without a point in the previous three games, Forth had two baskets to start a 16-6 run that put the game out of reach.
Playing a trapping defense, McNamara had a steal and fed Warrick for a one-hand slam dunk.
Seconds later, McCroskey stole the ball again and hit a layup to end the spurt and put Syracuse up 60-36 with 13:39 left.
Syracuse built a double-figures lead early, going up 15-5 on a 3-pointer by freshman guard Josh Wright.
But after missing their first three 3-pointers of the game, the Bearcats found the range. Heard and Schafer Jackson connected on consecutive 3s in a 29-second span to move Binghamton within 15-11.
A pair of follow shots by Watkins and a fast-break layup by Edelin helped Syracuse stretch its lead back to 30-17 with 6:54 left.
Binghamton, which lost its previous three games to Syracuse by 47, 36, and 21 points, rallied back against the Orange's man-to-man and press, pulling to 34-28 on a follow tip by Alex Adediran with 1:18 to go.
Sophomore guard Louis McCroskey had a career-high 11 points in his first start for the Orange, Billy Edelin had 10 and Darryl Watkins 8 to go with eight rebounds. Forward Terrence Roberts injured his right thumb in practice Friday and did not play.
Andre Heard led Binghamton with 17 points, Troy Hailey added 16 and Nick Billings 8 and eight rebounds.
Syracuse was the highest-ranked opponent the Bearcats ever faced, but the Orange didn't take charge until the second half.
Leading 36-28, Syracuse scored the first eight points after the break as the Bearcats missed their first four shots.
Binghamton fell behind 44-28 on a turnaround jumper in the lane by Warrick off a feed from center Craig Forth.
Without a point in the previous three games, Forth had two baskets to start a 16-6 run that put the game out of reach.
Playing a trapping defense, McNamara had a steal and fed Warrick for a one-hand slam dunk.
Seconds later, McCroskey stole the ball again and hit a layup to end the spurt and put Syracuse up 60-36 with 13:39 left.
Syracuse built a double-figures lead early, going up 15-5 on a 3-pointer by freshman guard Josh Wright.
But after missing their first three 3-pointers of the game, the Bearcats found the range. Heard and Schafer Jackson connected on consecutive 3s in a 29-second span to move Binghamton within 15-11.
A pair of follow shots by Watkins and a fast-break layup by Edelin helped Syracuse stretch its lead back to 30-17 with 6:54 left.
Binghamton, which lost its previous three games to Syracuse by 47, 36, and 21 points, rallied back against the Orange's man-to-man and press, pulling to 34-28 on a follow tip by Alex Adediran with 1:18 to go.
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.