SYRACUSE #- Midway through the season, it didn't look like Kristof Ongenaet was destined for a cheery senior day.
The Associated Press
Syracuse's Andy Rautins shoots under pressure from Rutgers' Mike Rosario during the first half in Syracuse, Tuesday.
Syracuse's Andy Rautins shoots under pressure from Rutgers' Mike Rosario during the first half in Syracuse, Tuesday.
Playing minimal minutes against the brunt of the Big East schedule, the senior from Belgium wasn't just fighting for time, he was fighting himself. Ongenaet had gone from a starter to a garbage-time player, and his self confidence took a hit.
But that confidence is clearly back, as Ongenaet worked his way back into the rotation the past few games with his physical brand of basketball and his workmanlike style of play.
And Syracuse's only scholarship senior was sent off in style Tuesday night, scoring 10 points and hauling in six boards in his final game at the Carrier Dome as the Orange rolled 70-40 past Rutgers.
Ongenaet's night, which was filled with multiple standing ovations from an appreciative crowd, was capped by a fast-break slam and a video board message proclaiming him “The Gent from Ghent.#”
“Kristof has been really good rebounding the ball all year and tonight he looked for his offense a little more,” Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. “He got to the basket and made a couple really good plays.”
The night also belonged to Paul Harris, who kept Syracuse (22-8 overall, 10-7 Big East) in the game early against a pesky Scarlet Knights team, and Arinze Onuaku, who sparked a second-half run.
Trailing by one at halftime after scoring a season-low 19 points, Syracuse changed its offensive philosophy immediately, pounding the ball into Onuaku for eight of the Orange's first 12 second-half points.
The Orange used a 14-0 run, sparked by three Andy Rautins' 3-pointers to take a 43-28 lead, finally pulling away from the Scarlet Knights.
“Our defense was good enough to hold us in there until Andy got us a couple good looks,” Boeheim said. “That kind of broke the game open.”
In all, Syracuse shot 21-for-28 in the second half and outscored Rutgers 51-20.
Harris led the Orange with 18 points and nine rebounds, Onuaku finished 10 points, all in the second half, and nine rebounds, Rautins poured in 11 points and Jonny Flynn added 10 assists to go with seven points.
A loss by Cincinnati earlier in the night guaranteed the Orange first-round bye in the Big East Championship next week, meaning Syracuse won't play until Wednesday. They will be either the sixth, seventh or eighth seed.
The Orange had numerous opportunities to take the lead at the end of the half but were unable to capitalize on three straight defensive stops. Devendorf missed two wide-open 3s and Flynn missed another trifecta just before the halftime buzzer. The guard combo combined to shoot 2-for-11 from the field in the first half.
Rutgers (10-20, 1-16) was paced by freshman Mike Rosario with 16 points on 6-for-21 shooting.
Syracuse closes out the regular season at Marquette for a 2 p.m. game Saturday.
Orange 70
S. Knights 40
But that confidence is clearly back, as Ongenaet worked his way back into the rotation the past few games with his physical brand of basketball and his workmanlike style of play.
And Syracuse's only scholarship senior was sent off in style Tuesday night, scoring 10 points and hauling in six boards in his final game at the Carrier Dome as the Orange rolled 70-40 past Rutgers.
Ongenaet's night, which was filled with multiple standing ovations from an appreciative crowd, was capped by a fast-break slam and a video board message proclaiming him “The Gent from Ghent.#”
“Kristof has been really good rebounding the ball all year and tonight he looked for his offense a little more,” Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. “He got to the basket and made a couple really good plays.”
The night also belonged to Paul Harris, who kept Syracuse (22-8 overall, 10-7 Big East) in the game early against a pesky Scarlet Knights team, and Arinze Onuaku, who sparked a second-half run.
Trailing by one at halftime after scoring a season-low 19 points, Syracuse changed its offensive philosophy immediately, pounding the ball into Onuaku for eight of the Orange's first 12 second-half points.
The Orange used a 14-0 run, sparked by three Andy Rautins' 3-pointers to take a 43-28 lead, finally pulling away from the Scarlet Knights.
“Our defense was good enough to hold us in there until Andy got us a couple good looks,” Boeheim said. “That kind of broke the game open.”
In all, Syracuse shot 21-for-28 in the second half and outscored Rutgers 51-20.
Harris led the Orange with 18 points and nine rebounds, Onuaku finished 10 points, all in the second half, and nine rebounds, Rautins poured in 11 points and Jonny Flynn added 10 assists to go with seven points.
A loss by Cincinnati earlier in the night guaranteed the Orange first-round bye in the Big East Championship next week, meaning Syracuse won't play until Wednesday. They will be either the sixth, seventh or eighth seed.
The Orange had numerous opportunities to take the lead at the end of the half but were unable to capitalize on three straight defensive stops. Devendorf missed two wide-open 3s and Flynn missed another trifecta just before the halftime buzzer. The guard combo combined to shoot 2-for-11 from the field in the first half.
Rutgers (10-20, 1-16) was paced by freshman Mike Rosario with 16 points on 6-for-21 shooting.
Syracuse closes out the regular season at Marquette for a 2 p.m. game Saturday.
Orange 70
S. Knights 40
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