SYRACUSE - Eric Devendorf, looking more like his old self, had 15 points, three blocks and two steals in leading Syracuse to a 73-63 victory over Indiana University of Pennsylvania on Sunday.
It was the second and final exhibition game for Syracuse, which opens its season in a week against crosstown foe Le Moyne. The Orange defeated Division II Cal State-Los Angeles 77-56 on Monday night after leading just 34-30 at the break.
Jonny Flynn and freshman Kris Joseph each finished with 14 points for the Orange, Paul Harris had 12 points but only one rebound, Arinze Onuaku had seven points and 13 rebounds, and Kristof Ongenaet had seven points and six rebounds before fouling out in the second half.
Andy Rautins, who sat out all of last season with a torn knee ligament, sprained an ankle in practice Saturday, received two stitches, and did not play. Coach Jim Boeheim said Rautins would probably miss two days of practice and return later in the week.
Julian Sanders had 12 points to lead the Crimson Hawks, Sean Christiansen and Ashton Smith each scored 10, Chris Seaborn eight points and eight rebounds, and Thomas Young had eight points.
Despite a big brace covering his left knee, Devendorf, who missed most of last season with a torn knee ligament, showed no sign of tentativeness in driving the lane, shooting from outside, or defending. Devendorf, who had five points and a team-high seven assists in 25 minutes against Cal State, played 30 minutes Sunday.
IUP, which also plays in Division II, used 3-pointers by Smith, Christiansen and Sanders to stay close at the outset. But after Christiansen's shot gave the Crimson Hawks an 8-5 lead at 17:28, Onuaku scored six straight points to key a 10-0 Orange run.
Onuaku's left-handed layup and a runner in the lane by Flynn gave Syracuse a 15-8 lead at 14:36.
Sanders stopped the surge with another 3, but Syracuse followed with a 15-2 run that left no doubt about the outcome. A layup by Joseph and 3-pointer from the right corner by Devendorf gave Syracuse a 24-13 lead midway through the half and Devendorf's pullup jumper from left wing made it 30-13 with 7:29 left.
Syracuse was 19-for-32 (52 percent) from the floor and 4-for-10 from beyond the arc in building a 46-25 halftime lead. Just like their first exhibition win, the Orange concentrated on playing man-to-man defense and held IUP to 9-of-30 (30 percent) in the opening period, forcing 14 turnovers.
IUP finished the game 23-for-61 (37.7 percent) and 7-for-19 (36.8 percent) from long range.
The Orange also dominated the much smaller Crimson Hawks on the glass at the start, holding an 11-3 edge after eight minutes. But Syracuse only held a 22-18 edge at the break and finished with a 41-36 advantage, only 15-14 on the offensive glass.
Syracuse again faltered from the free-throw line, going 8-for-18 for a two-game total of 18-for-44 (40.9 percent).
The Crimson Hawks never stopped trying to make a game of it as Syracuse's defense sputtered in the second half. They moved within 57-44 on a layup by Young midway through the second half.
Devendorf then converted a left-handed layup high off the glass, Flynn dunked, and Onuaku fed Joseph for a layup to boost the Syracuse lead back to 63-44 with 9:02 remaining.
A basket by Maurice Polen, two free throws by Christiansen and a 3-pointer by Seaborn moved IUP within 73-62 with 2:15 left as Syracuse failed to score in the final 4:23.
Orange 73
C. Hawks 63
Sound off Orange fans
Discuss the new season of Syracuse basketball on the Orange Slices blog at www.auburnpub.com/blogs.
Jonny Flynn and freshman Kris Joseph each finished with 14 points for the Orange, Paul Harris had 12 points but only one rebound, Arinze Onuaku had seven points and 13 rebounds, and Kristof Ongenaet had seven points and six rebounds before fouling out in the second half.
Andy Rautins, who sat out all of last season with a torn knee ligament, sprained an ankle in practice Saturday, received two stitches, and did not play. Coach Jim Boeheim said Rautins would probably miss two days of practice and return later in the week.
Julian Sanders had 12 points to lead the Crimson Hawks, Sean Christiansen and Ashton Smith each scored 10, Chris Seaborn eight points and eight rebounds, and Thomas Young had eight points.
Despite a big brace covering his left knee, Devendorf, who missed most of last season with a torn knee ligament, showed no sign of tentativeness in driving the lane, shooting from outside, or defending. Devendorf, who had five points and a team-high seven assists in 25 minutes against Cal State, played 30 minutes Sunday.
IUP, which also plays in Division II, used 3-pointers by Smith, Christiansen and Sanders to stay close at the outset. But after Christiansen's shot gave the Crimson Hawks an 8-5 lead at 17:28, Onuaku scored six straight points to key a 10-0 Orange run.
Onuaku's left-handed layup and a runner in the lane by Flynn gave Syracuse a 15-8 lead at 14:36.
Sanders stopped the surge with another 3, but Syracuse followed with a 15-2 run that left no doubt about the outcome. A layup by Joseph and 3-pointer from the right corner by Devendorf gave Syracuse a 24-13 lead midway through the half and Devendorf's pullup jumper from left wing made it 30-13 with 7:29 left.
Syracuse was 19-for-32 (52 percent) from the floor and 4-for-10 from beyond the arc in building a 46-25 halftime lead. Just like their first exhibition win, the Orange concentrated on playing man-to-man defense and held IUP to 9-of-30 (30 percent) in the opening period, forcing 14 turnovers.
IUP finished the game 23-for-61 (37.7 percent) and 7-for-19 (36.8 percent) from long range.
The Orange also dominated the much smaller Crimson Hawks on the glass at the start, holding an 11-3 edge after eight minutes. But Syracuse only held a 22-18 edge at the break and finished with a 41-36 advantage, only 15-14 on the offensive glass.
Syracuse again faltered from the free-throw line, going 8-for-18 for a two-game total of 18-for-44 (40.9 percent).
The Crimson Hawks never stopped trying to make a game of it as Syracuse's defense sputtered in the second half. They moved within 57-44 on a layup by Young midway through the second half.
Devendorf then converted a left-handed layup high off the glass, Flynn dunked, and Onuaku fed Joseph for a layup to boost the Syracuse lead back to 63-44 with 9:02 remaining.
A basket by Maurice Polen, two free throws by Christiansen and a 3-pointer by Seaborn moved IUP within 73-62 with 2:15 left as Syracuse failed to score in the final 4:23.
Orange 73
C. Hawks 63
Sound off Orange fans
Discuss the new season of Syracuse basketball on the Orange Slices blog at www.auburnpub.com/blogs.
