Multiple Double Digit Scores Give Syracuse the Victory

Story by Brian Armstrong

Photo by Ellen Burr 

Syracuse N.Y.—  In a game that had fans calling for and getting free tacos for their tickets and the Syracuse walk-ons getting a minute and a half of playing time, the Syracuse men's basketball team wrapped up its ninth win of the season three days ahead of Christmas.

Five Syracuse players scored in double digits Tuesday night as Syracuse beat  Montana State 82-60 at the Carrier Dome with  in the seventh home game of the season.


"I thought in the first half we were unbelievably defensive and in the second half we were unbelievable on the offensive end," interim head coach Mike Hopkins said.

The Orange (9-3) won its second game in a row on the back of a strong second half of shooting and overall poor shooting from the Bobcats (5-7.) Montana State has now lost three straight.
 

Poor first half shooting 
 

Both teams trudged through the first half with a woeful shooting display. Syracuse went 11-31 from the floor and Montana State made just 7-33.

Both teams struggled, particularly from deep, as the teams combined for 5 of 29. Montana State went 2-16 with Syracuse making just one more on three fewer attempts.

Syracuse went into the locker room at the half with a 14-point lead, 31-17.

Syracuse’s Michael Gbinije and Montana State’s Sarp Gobeloglu were tied for most points at the half with seven.
 

Coming Out Hot
 

Syracuse came out firing in the second half, making its first five shots from the floor.

The Orange took advantage of the shorter Bobcats, getting the ball to center Dajuan Coleman, who had a season-high 13 points. He scored five of his 13 during that early second half run, going 2-2 from the floor and 1-1 from the line.

"Coleman did a great job of taking his time and being patient in the post," Hopkins said. "Going five for five in twelve minutes is pretty incredible.” 

Coleman scored the first points of the second half, just as he had in the first.

“Scoring (to start each half) gets me in the flow of the game and just gives me confidence,” Coleman said. “Really it just makes my confidence go up and makes me want to shoot more."

Malachi Richardson and Gbinije also added in a basket apiece during the stretch without a miss.

Montana State’s shooting improved considerably in the second half going over 50 percent making 16 of 31.  It was too little too late, however, when combined with the lead Syracuse had from the first half and the solid shooting for the Orange in the second half.

The Orange went just 4 of 12 from deep however, the team made three of its first four from behind the 3- point line. Syracuse shot 56 percent for the half and 33 percent from the arc. As a team Syracuse made 21 of 37.

Double digit scorers
 

In a game when eight players scored in double figures, Syracuse had five.

Not only did Coleman join the frequent scoring column names of Gbinije (17), Trevor Cooney (12)and  Tyler Lydon (10), but the fifth player in double figures was seldom-used center Chinonso Obokoh. The 6'9" junior had a career high 12 points.

“I was walking and pacing before the game," Hopkins said. "I knew that I wanted to try and get Chino in.”

He wound up playing 12 minutes and it was Obokoh's basket with 3:42 left that put Syracuse at 75 points, making game tickets good for a free taco. Fans in the sparsely populated Dome (17,202 announced attendance) had been chanting, "We want tacos" for some time.
 

Montana State had three players who scored in double figures.  Gobeloglu, who led the team in scoring, had 13, Tyler Hall, 12 and Marcus Colbert, 10.

Game Notes
 

This game was just the second time these teams have faced-off. Syracuse has won both meetings with the first being in the first round of the NCAA tournament back in 1996. The Orange won that game 88-55.

Despite the Bobcats shooting over 50 percent in the second half they still shot under 36 percent for the game.

Tyler Lydon had four blocks; more than Montana State's players combined (2.) One of Lydon’s blocks was on a three-point attempt that ended up four rows into the stands.  

“I’m like making a block as well as draining a three,” Lydon said. "I’m not sure which I like more... whichever one gives us more momentum.”

Hopkins put five walk-ons in with 1:29 left in the game. Freshman Ky Feldman, a Newhouse School student from the Los Angeles area had the final basket of the game, a layup with :01 left.

Look Ahead
 

Syracuse will be taking on Texas Southern (1-9) at the Carrier Dome on December 27. Texas Southern is on a five- game losing streak.  This game will mark the last game of non-conference game.

Montana State’s travels to Utah to play Southern Utah (3-7) on New Year's Eve.
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl5OkLjbYF4