Syracuse Wears Down Hampton

 

Story and Photo by Robert Magobet 

 

Syracuse, N.Y - Underdog Hampton played No.23 Syracuse competitively Sunday—but ultimately the Orange put the clamps on defensively in the second half winning 65-47 Sunday in the second game of the 2K Classic at the Carrier Dome.

This game followed SU's 89-42 thrashing of Kennesaw State Friday night in the first game of the 2K Classic in which head coach Jim Boeheim made history winning his 949^th game. That's more wins than all other Syracuse coach combined.

His 950^th win on the day before his 70th birthday had more of a blue collar, roll-up your sleeves kind of a feel throughout the game, a kind of game that Boeheim is familiar with.

“We played very well down the stretch, that’s a good sign,” Boeheim said. “We made a couple of other defensive plays and we finally made a couple of shots. When the ball goes in the basket it’s an easier game. We struggled to score for a long time in the second half but our defense kept us in position to win the game.”

Defense

This game showed  a defensive theme from both teams all night shown by the final score—but Syracuse forward Rakeem Christmas contributed in multiple phases from the jump. He finished the game with 15 points and 16 rebounds.

“Coach (Boeheim) let me get the ball and I needed to assert myself early in the game,” Christmas said. “Coach (Mike) Hopkins wants me to go out and assert myself in the game and that’s what I try to do.”

Offensively the Orange moved the ball around before passing it down low to Christmas. When defenders collapsed on Christmas it opened up shots and driving lanes for forward B.J. Johnson and guard Trevor Cooney. Johnson scored eight points in the game going 2-of-5 from beyond the arc. Cooney scored eight points as well, shooting 2-of-7 behind the three-point line.

Freshman forward Chris McCullough contributed 13 points and three blocks.

A couple of defensive plays from Hampton causing Syracuse to turn the ball over twice really established the defensive struggle early. The first turnover at the 15:11 mark in the first half by Chris McCullough resulted in a fast break in which Hampton guard Darren Powers scored while being hacked by Syracuse forward Michael Gbinije. Powers completed the three-point play making the score 11-10 Syracuse early in the first half.

A couple of plays later Gbinije turned the ball over at the 14:14 mark in the first half. Hampton scored seven points off fast break opportunities in the first half.

Along with defensive intensity in the zone defense, points in the paint scored by the Pirates became an issue for Syracuse keeping the game close in the first half. Hampton scored 16 points in the paint versus Syracuse’s 10 in the first half which ended with Syracuse leading, 35-27.

Second Half: Syracuse finally takes control

Syracuse came out in the second half with its standard 2-3 zone defense. But in the second half the Pirates seemed to tire out. Syracuse conditioning appeared to be at a different level than Hampton. That might have had to do with the team being delayed by weather flying to Syracuse from Iowa where the Pirates lost Friday night. They arrived in Syracuse after noon on Sunday.

Hampton stayed competitive, closing the 12-point lead Syracuse opened early in the half, but a few plays here and there really changed the momentum.

A layup by Hampton guard Dwight Meikle made the score 45-40 at the 9:12 mark but that turned out to be the closest margin in the second half. Meikle finished with six points and four rebounds.

On the next play Syracuse guard Trevor Cooney drained a three-pointer igniting the crowed with 8:53 to go.

“At that time we were kind of struggling a little bit,” Cooney said. “Hampton made a good run so I know we needed a big basket and I was aggressive and got to the open spot. (Tyler) Roberson found me. It was a dagger--yeah.”

Pirate Positives 

Hampton stayed in the ball game early by scoring 28 points in the paint to 26 points in the paint for Syracuse.  Jervon Pressley used his big 6’8' frame to score six and grab five rebounds, banging among the Orange’s trees.

Defensively, Pirates guards Brian Darden, Ke’Ron Brown, Deron Powers and Dwight Meikle used their athleticism to fight over screens and communication contest Syracuse shooters.
Still, Syracuse, with a little more talent than Hampton, revved up its defensive intensity when it mattered most.

“We continued to stick to our game plan, “Syracuse point guard Kaleb Joseph said. “Guard the screens inside and outside real well. I don’t think we changed anything. I think it’s hard if you continue to do the same things over and over again. If you stick to it, it starts to work over time. They just got a little tired I think and we capitalized on that.”

Joseph finished with five points, five assists and three turnovers.

The Chievous factor

Hampton guard Quinton Chievous, the son of Derrick Chievous, Missouri’s all-time leading scorer, played the game aggressively contributing 17 points, five rebounds and one steal. Chievous' aggressiveness in the game really kept the Pirates in striking distance. In the first half he scored nine points and three rebounds.

Scoring eight points in the second half, he slithered his way through small seams in the Syracuse zone defense taking advantage of his assertiveness, length and athleticism.

What’s Next

Syracuse will take on the California Golden Bears in the 2K Classic semi-final on Thursday in Madison Square Garden.  Trevor Cooney has his sights on the Golden Bears.

“California is a really good team,” Cooney said. “We played them the last couple of years. We know that there a good team. They got some really good players and well coached. We’re looking forward to it.”

On Friday night Syracuse will play either Texas or Iowa who meet in the other semi-final.