At this point in the season, the only way Syracuse is going to get to the NCAA tournament is by winning from here on out.
Donte Greene had 19 points and 13 rebounds and Syracuse snapped a season-high three-game losing streak with an 85-73 victory over Seton Hall on Wednesday night in a game in which the Orange lost two points 15 minutes after the first half ended.
“You want to win every game, but now our backs are not even against the wall, they are cemented against the wall, engraved into the wall,” said guard Jonny Flynn, who scored 16 points. “So this was a must must. Every game is a must, must, must win for us.”
Syracuse (18-12, 8-9 Big East) lost any margin for error last weekend when it blew a late lead in a loss at home to Pittsburgh. “I hurt all day Saturday,” Greene said. “But we let it go and we came here focused and ready to play. We know what we have to do. We have to win flat out. We have to win our last home game (Marquette on Saturday) and go to New York and I think win two to three games.”
Arinze Onuaku added 17 points and 14 rebounds before fouling out and Kristof Ongenaet had 10 points and 11 rebounds as Syracuse won for only the second time in six games. Paul Harris hit two late baskets to put the game away.
Brian Laing scored 17 of his 20 points in the second half and Jamar Nutter added 15 for Seton Hall (17-13, 7-10). Jeremy Hazell added 14 points for the Pirates, who were outrebounded 54-29.
Despite the loss, Seton Hall clinched a berth in the conference tournament when St. John's lost to Notre Dame.
The most memorable part of the game was the start of the second half and left Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim shaking his head.
A late run that Greene started with consecutive 3-pointers gave Syracuse what seemed to be a 48-31 halftime lead. The last two points came when Scoop Jardine hit 2 of 3 free throws with less than a second to play.
Jardine had picked up a loose ball in the closing seconds, dribbled down the court and tossed up a shot just before the buzzer. Tim Higgins called a foul.
After reviewing the videotape, the officials decided the shot came before the buzzer and was outside the 3-point ring.
When the officials came on the floor for the second half, the crew was informed of the clock malfunction, he told a pool reporter after they game. They watched the tape again, saw the clock stop with about four seconds remaining and decided they had definite knowledge of a mistake and took away the points.
While he didn't understand the reasoning, Boeheim felt it was the right call, even though it was one that had never happened in his career.
For most of the second half, the change seemed insignificant as Syracuse led by double figures.
However, the Orangemen went cold with about six minutes to play and Laing scored all 10 points in a 10-2 run that got Seton Hall to within 76-69 with 3:35 to go.
Harris, who finished with 14 points, hit a jumper in the lane and drove for a layup with 1:50 to play for an 80-69 lead that iced the game.
“The game was won and lost on the backboard,” Gonzalez said. “We you lose a game by 25 rebounds, the only way you can win a game like that is if you make threes. We were 9 for 34 from three.”
Orange 85
Pirates 73
Blog on it
Orange fans, be sure to check out the Orange Slices blog at auburnpub.com/blogs for lively commentary on the SU athletics scene.
“You want to win every game, but now our backs are not even against the wall, they are cemented against the wall, engraved into the wall,” said guard Jonny Flynn, who scored 16 points. “So this was a must must. Every game is a must, must, must win for us.”
Syracuse (18-12, 8-9 Big East) lost any margin for error last weekend when it blew a late lead in a loss at home to Pittsburgh. “I hurt all day Saturday,” Greene said. “But we let it go and we came here focused and ready to play. We know what we have to do. We have to win flat out. We have to win our last home game (Marquette on Saturday) and go to New York and I think win two to three games.”
Arinze Onuaku added 17 points and 14 rebounds before fouling out and Kristof Ongenaet had 10 points and 11 rebounds as Syracuse won for only the second time in six games. Paul Harris hit two late baskets to put the game away.
Brian Laing scored 17 of his 20 points in the second half and Jamar Nutter added 15 for Seton Hall (17-13, 7-10). Jeremy Hazell added 14 points for the Pirates, who were outrebounded 54-29.
Despite the loss, Seton Hall clinched a berth in the conference tournament when St. John's lost to Notre Dame.
The most memorable part of the game was the start of the second half and left Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim shaking his head.
A late run that Greene started with consecutive 3-pointers gave Syracuse what seemed to be a 48-31 halftime lead. The last two points came when Scoop Jardine hit 2 of 3 free throws with less than a second to play.
Jardine had picked up a loose ball in the closing seconds, dribbled down the court and tossed up a shot just before the buzzer. Tim Higgins called a foul.
After reviewing the videotape, the officials decided the shot came before the buzzer and was outside the 3-point ring.
When the officials came on the floor for the second half, the crew was informed of the clock malfunction, he told a pool reporter after they game. They watched the tape again, saw the clock stop with about four seconds remaining and decided they had definite knowledge of a mistake and took away the points.
While he didn't understand the reasoning, Boeheim felt it was the right call, even though it was one that had never happened in his career.
For most of the second half, the change seemed insignificant as Syracuse led by double figures.
However, the Orangemen went cold with about six minutes to play and Laing scored all 10 points in a 10-2 run that got Seton Hall to within 76-69 with 3:35 to go.
Harris, who finished with 14 points, hit a jumper in the lane and drove for a layup with 1:50 to play for an 80-69 lead that iced the game.
“The game was won and lost on the backboard,” Gonzalez said. “We you lose a game by 25 rebounds, the only way you can win a game like that is if you make threes. We were 9 for 34 from three.”
Orange 85
Pirates 73
Blog on it
Orange fans, be sure to check out the Orange Slices blog at auburnpub.com/blogs for lively commentary on the SU athletics scene.
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.