Monday, January 12, 2015

Cooney's Hot Hand Leads Syracuse over Florida State, 70-57

By Julia Morris


Early in the first half of Syracuse's game against Florida State, Trevor Cooney got the ball from behind the arc and took one dribble, fired and hit nothing but net – and he was just getting started.

After that first three Cooney would hit six more from behind the arc, finishing the night with 28 points in Syracuse’s (12-4, 3-0 ACC) 70-57 win over Florida State (9-7, 1-2 ACC) on Sunday night at the Carrier Dome.

“I got a couple early and it felt good,” Cooney said. “When I make shots, it extends the defense and we’re able to get some easy ones."


Cooney Gets Going

Cooney got hot quickly in the first half, making four of seven from behind the arc.  His first three pointer of the night gave Syracuse an early 7-4 lead with 16:40 remaining in the half.  He hit another with 11:42 to go in the first.  on the Orange’s next possession, Michael Gbinije followed with a three-pointer of his own, putting Syracuse up 18-10.

“Our offense was good and it was really encouraging,” Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim said.  “This was our best offensive game since the first half of the Virginia Tech game.”

After Florida State got the ball back following Gbinije's three, Cooney forced an FSU turnover, one of eight in the first half for the Seminoles.  Florida State also struggled from the field. The team has been playing without one of its biggest offensive contributers, guard Aaron Thomas, since mid-December when he was declared ineligible for the rest of the season. The Seminoles made only eight of their 26 attempts from the field and none of their eight attempts from behind the arc in the first half.

“Coach wanted us to get on all of their shooters and make them take tough shots and that’s what we were doing,” SU center Rakeem Christmas said.

While Florida State has been playing without one of its starters, Syracuse lost one of its own early in the first half. Freshman Chris McCullough tried to catch a long pass by Kaleb Joseph but he landed awkwardly on his leg and fell to the floor.  McCullough had to be helped off the court and did not return to the game.  There was no update on the details of his injury after the game.

Seminoles Rally in Second Half but Cooney’s Hot Hand Too Much to Overcome

Syracuse had a 35-22 lead heading into the break, but Florida State came out fighting in the second half, improving to 48-percent shooting from the field.  However, every time Florida State seemed to gain momentum, Cooney had an answer.  With 13:19 left in the game, Florida State's Jarquez Smith threw down a one-handed slam off an offensive rebound - but on the Orange's next possession Cooney quickly quieted any FSU excitement over the dunk by hitting a three and putting Syracuse up 50-36.

The Seminoles got close again with about five minutes left in the game.  Xavier Rathan-Mayes, who led the Seminoles with 14 points, hit a free throw to cut the Orange lead to nine.  However, on Syracuse’s next possession Cooney hit his sixth three-pointer to put Syracuse back ahead by double digits.

“He was coming off those screens and popping them and knocking them down like he knew they were supposed to go in…he was on fire,” Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton said. “I was shaking my head a couple of times saying my goodness I wish he had waited one more game before he got that feeling.”

Along with Cooney’s strong offensive performance, Christmas and Gbinije also finished the night in double digit scoring.  Christmas totaled 14 points and Gbinije had 11. Christmas also played well on defense, finishing the night with five blocks.
 
“Rak is full of life for us and this was his best defensive game," Boeheim said. "He blocked some shots, he was active on the defensive end - I thought he was very solid.”

Kaleb Joseph, who has struggled this season with turnovers, also turned in a solid performance at point guard.  He finished the game with seven assists and only one turnover.

“I’m seeing things I didn’t see before," Joseph said.  "I’m listening to the coaching staff and trying to develop as a player and the more I listen and try to embrace everything the better I’ll be."

One of Joseph’s assists was to Cooney for his seventh and final three-pointer of the night.  Just as he started out hot early in the first half, Cooney finished strong in the second and his last three put the Orange up 67-52 with about three minutes to go.  Although Florida State scored five points in the final minute of the game, the Seminoles' efforts were not enough to overcome Cooney’s sharp shooting and the Orange’s strong offensive performance.

Next Up

Syracuse has now won six in a row and is 3-0 in ACC play.  Next up, the Orange will host Wake Forest on Tuesday night at the Dome.  Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.

Florida State returns to the court on Wednesday.  The Seminoles will travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Panthers at 9 p.m.


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