Balanced Attack Leads Syracuse Past UCONN Men

Demetris Nichols, 20 points, led 4 Syracuse players in double figures as they defeated the UCONN Huskies 73-63 on Saturday at the Carrier Dome. The win avenges a 7 point loss to UCONN 12 days ago. Paul Harris had 16 points, Eric Devendorf 15 points and Andy Routins had 13 points to round out the Orangemen in double figures. UCONN was led by Jerome Dyson, who scored a career high 27 points. Hasheem Thabeet added 11 points for the Huskies.

The first half was not very pretty as both teams had trouble scoring. Dyson got hot early for the Huskies with a couple of 3 point baskets before a Devendorf jumper tied the game at 18 with 8 minutes to go in the half. The game stayed close thru the rest of the half with Syracuse pulling out to a 6 point lead before a Stanley Robinson 3 pointer at the buzzer got UCONN within 3 points, 35-32, going into the locker room at the half.

Starting out the 2nd half, a Nichols jumper and a dunk to go along with 3 missed shots by UCONN, led Coach Jim Calhoun to call a timeout. UCONN responded with a jump shot by Craig Austrie but was then held scoreless for the next two minutes. During that same time, Syracuse was also held scoreless. Back to back 3’s by Rautins got the ‘Cuse lead up to 9 and they never looked back from there on their way to the 10 point victory.

Notes and Observations:

• The starters were Austrie, Dyson, Robinson, Thabeet, and Adrien.
• Dyson had a career high 6 three point shots made. He was really the only scoring threat UCONN had in the game.
• Robinson was the only other player on UCONN to make a 3 pointer.
• Adrien struggled with from the floor, going 3 of 8 for 6 points. He was also 0 for 4 from the charity stripe. He did pull down 10 rebounds.
• A.J. Price’s struggles continued. You could see him visibly upset about his play. His time away from the game is really taking it’s toll on him.
• Thabeet also pulled down 8 rebounds and blocked 4 shots
• UCONN was out-rebounded 55-45.
• Both teams were awful from the floor. They were both 21 of 65 (32%) from the floor.
• The difference was from the foul line. UCONN was 14 of 28 (50%) and Syracuse was 26 of 31 (84%). As I have said all season, you can’t expect to win games in the Big East when you shoot 50% from the foul line.

As I said last game, UCONN really needs someone to step up. Dyson has now done this two games in a row. With Adrien kinda disappearing from the offense during this game, UCONN has no one else. This does not bode well as they try to win games down the stretch to get into the Big East tournament.

With the loss, UCONN falls to 16-10 (5-7 in the Big East). Next up for the Huskies is a road date on Wednesday against Rutgers. Game time is 7:30 PM and the game is being televised locally on CW20.