Syracuse Sends UAlbany to Season-Opening Defeat in 2K Sports Classic's First Round

Syracuse, N.Y. - Arinze Onuaka had 14 points to pace five players in double figures to lead Syracuse to a 75-43 victory over UAlbany in the first round of the 2K Sports Classic, benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer, on Monday, Nov. 9 before 15,707 fans at the Carrier Dome. The season-opening contest was televised nationally on ESPNU.

Syracuse's Jim Boeheim recorded his 800th career victory and became the eighth head coach at the Division I level to reach the milestone. Boeheim, who is in his 34th season at the school, has guided the program to 32 NCAA Tournament appearances and a national championship.

Syracuse, ranked No. 25 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, ran off eight straight points to start the game. But the visitors regrouped to close within 9-7 on a three-point field goal by Louis Barraza. The Orange came back with nine unanswered and the outcome was never in doubt. Rick Jackson, a 6-foot-9 junior, scored in the lane, before Kris Joseph's basket ended the run.

The Orange, who went 28-10 last year and advance to the NCAA regional semifinals, cruised to a 38-20 halftime advantage. Syracuse's 2-3 zone defense caused all kinds of problems, as UAlbany had 20 turnovers in the half. The Great Danes finished 32 miscues, the program's single-game Division I mark.

"We didn't take care of the ball and were soft with it," UAlbany senior Brett Gifford said. "The turnovers led to easy baskets. For some reason, the mystique of this (Syracuse) program got to us. We didn't play like we have in practice."

Wes Johnson, an Iowa State transfer, stuffed his stat line in his first game in a Syracuse uniform. He finished with 12 points, eight rebounds, six steals and four assists. Scoop Jardine and Joseph added 12 points apiece, as their team shot 48.3 percent from the field.

"We were active on defense and got the ball inside," Boeheim explained. "The encouraging thing is that we scored despite the turnovers. It was a good way to start the season."

UAlbany's Will Harris, a 6-foot-5 senior, led the way with 14 points, all in the second half. Tim Ambrose had 10 of his 12 markers in the opening stanza. Brown used most of his bench throughout the game, as 11 of the 12 players who saw action had made an appearance with 10 minutes elapsed.

"Everything that could possibly go wrong did go wrong," said Brown, whose team plays its home opener at SEFCU Arena against Morgan State on Friday. "We were like deer in headlights. Once we turned the ball over, we panicked offensively. Syracuse has great length on its 2-3 zone and they stretch it like a 2-2-1."
Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information