SYRACUSE HEADS TO SWEET 16 WITH 78-67 WIN

March 23, 2009


Syracuse shot a blistering 55% from the field against the Arizona State match-up zone defense in their 2nd round win over the Sun Devils in Miami on Sunday afternoon.

"I thought we played extremely well," SU coach Jim Boeheim said of his team in the 78-67 win. "That defense is difficult to go against, a match up is very difficult to go against."

The Orange executed coach Boeheim's game plan perfectly, jumping out to an early lead, which reached as high as 15 in the first half, 39-24. SU got the ball inside and then they were able to go outside with Andy Rautins hitting perimeter jumpers.

"You don't want to play from behind against them," said Boehiem. "I thought the key early is getting it inside. I thought our guys did a great job of getting it in there. And then after we got some inside looks, Andy came in and hit a couple threes."

Arinze Onuaku scored 10 of his 12 points in the first half and Rick Jackson added some early buckets, including the first two scores of the game for the Orange.

From there, hot shooting by Rautins and Eric Devendorf seemed to answer every run put forth by ASU.

Devendorf scored 21 and Rautins finished with 17. The duo combined to hit eight of 18 three-point attempts.

Arizona State was able to cut the lead to seven, 41-34, but a three-point play by Rick Jackson (13 points, 8 rebounds) and a three-pointer by Johnny Flynn (11 points, 7 assists) and when Andy Rautins connected on a jumper at the 13:18 mark, the Orange lead was back to 15, 57-42.

Back came the Sun Devils, though, with a 15-4 run, capped by a Ty Abbott three that made the score 61-57 with 6:38 remaining.

It was as close as ASU would get.

After a timeout, Rautins connected on a three-pointer on a pass from Flynn, who then found Eric Devendorf just over a minute later and it was a 67-59 Orange lead.

"It was just a great look all around and a well designed play," said Rautins of the set-play following the timeout.

Devendorf would strike again on the next SU possession and the lead was back to 11.

After a pair of free throws by James Harden, Syracuse would score six consecutive points, all from the line, and the lead was back to 15 at 76-61 with just 1:51 remaining and the Orange would go on to win by the final of 78-67.

"This is the NCAA Tournament so we know every team is going to make a run at us," Devendorf said after the game. "They made a run, but the guys we have on our team, even though Jonny is a sophomore, he's a veteran player, the best point guard in America, and Andy Rautins knocked down a big shot and I was able to get open from Jonny penetrating and kicking."

Next up is the South Regional in Memphis for the Orange where they will meet second seed Oklahoma.