SYRACUSE ZONE STYMIES LUMBERJACKS

March 21, 2009


Syracuse started the afternoon by leading from start to finish in a 59-44 victory over Stephen F. Austin. The Orange got out of the gate quickly, leading 22-6 with 9:28 left in the first half. Seeing the trademark Syracuse 2-3 zone for the first time, Stephen F. Austin could not get their offense in gear.

“Sometimes when teams see our defense for the first time, they struggle against it a little bit,” said Jim Boeheim following the game.

The Lumberjacks settled for the perimeter shot much too often, with little success, shooting 2-21 (.095) from three-point range and 25% overall from the field.

The Orange overcame 21 turnovers, 7 from Johnny Flynn, and an 0-fer shooting performance from Andy Rautins (0-6) by using their advantage in the paint. Arinze Onuaku and Rick Jackson each scored 12 points, many early as SU opened their big advantage in the opening minutes.

“I thought early they were really good,” Boeheim said of his interior duo. “They caught the ball, finished plays around the basket.”

Johnny Flynn had a game-high 16 points and added 7 assists. Paul Harris was limited to just four points, but he dominated the boards with a game-high 16 rebounds and the Orange owned the glass, out-rebounding the Lumberjacks 55-34 in the game.

Syracuse will face sixth-seed Arizona State on Sunday in second round action in Miami.