Syracuse Beats UTEP 83-69

Syracuse Beats UTEP 83-69
Orange Wins BCA Championship

Box Score

Syracuse, N.Y-The #20/20 Syracuse Orange (3-0) defeated UTEP (2-1), 83-69, in the final game of the BCA Invitational at the Carrier Dome on Sunday, November 12. Sophomore guard Eric Devendorf led the Orange with 19 points and was named MVP of the tournament. Devendorf scored in double-figures in each game of the three-day event and averaged 16 points. Senior forward Terrence Roberts, who had a game-high 11 rebounds against UTEP, was named to the all-tournament team. Roberts averaged 11.0 rebounds for the tournament.

The Orange had offensive input from the entire roster with six players in double-figures, marking the first time that occured since December 30, 2000 when Syracuse beat Niagara, 95-69. Senior forward Matt Gorman scored a career-high 12 points for the second-consecutive night to go along with four rebounds and a career-best four blocks. Senior forward Demetris Nichols scored 12 points for the Orange and senior center Darryl Watkins and junior guard Josh Wright had 10 each. Watkins also grabbed eight rebounds as did freshman forward Paul Harris, who chipped in 11 points as well. Syracuse ‘s offense was very strong all weekend, as the Orange averaged more than 81 points per game.

The first five minutes of the game were fast paced as the lead changed hands three times. UTEP went on top first with a three pointer by guard Stefon Jackson on a fastbreak, but the Orange tied it up on its next trip down with a three from the left side by Devendorf. A pair of free throws by Watkins put the Orange up by two, but UTEP guard Darren Clarke was fouled as he made a three from the corner and cashed in the free throw to put UTEP back on top. Nichols scored six points in 1:17 and the Orange led, 11-7.

Syracuse maintained at least a four point cushion throughout most of the first half. Harris came up with a steal at midcourt at 14:33. He led the fastbreak, split two UTEP defenders, made an underhanded layup as he was fouled, and made the ensuing free throw to complete the three-point play. Jackson threw down two dunks, one off an alley-oop inbounds pass and the other uncontested on a fastbreak, as the Miners pulled within three points with nine minutes left in the half, 22-19.

Clarke tied the game at 24 with two free throws, but sophomore forward Andy Rautins, who was in the game for less than a minute, put the Orange back on top with a three pointer. Syracuse crashed the boards to score four quick fastbreak points. Harris started the first breakout with a rebound off a block by Gorman. Devendorf led the Orange and found Harris underneath for a layup. Devendorf pulled down a rebound on UTEP’s next trip down and took the ball the length of the court for an acrobatic layup to extend Syracuse’s lead to 31-24 with less than five minutes left in the half.

The Orange opened up an 11 point lead as the last seconds of the first half ticked away, but forward Maurice Thomas made a layup at the buzzer to cut the Syracuse lead to 42-33 at halftime. Devendorf and Watkins led the Orange with 10 points apiece in the first half while Jackson scored nine for the Miners.

Both teams came out of the locker room hot with 14 points scored in the first four minutes. Syracuse then opened up a 13-0 run to increase its lead to a game-high 20 points. Devendorf scored five points during the stretch, including a key three-point play as he corralled a loose ball in the lane, was fouled on is layup, and converted the free throw. UTEP missed 10-consecutive shots during the Syracuse run and was held without a field goal for 5:12. Nichols helped stymie the UTEP offense when he blocked a layup by Jackson on a two-on-one fastbreak.

UTEP went on a 24-12 run over the next 9:38, but the Syracuse lead never dipped under eight points. Syracuse made 10 free throws down the stretch, including two after a technical foul was called on UTEP forward Victory Ramahlo, to secure the victory. The Miners’ poor shooting in the second half contributed to the loss as they were 12-of-43 from the field, including 6-of-21 from beyond the arc.

Roberts was joined on the all-tournament team by Mark Zoller (Penn), Robert Hines (St. Francis) and Stefon Jackson (UTEP). Jackson led the Miners with 17 points and two steals against Syracuse.