Syracuse Men Pick Up Win over Holy Cross

Story by Jake Lapin
Photos by Andrew Leffler


SYRACUSE, N.Y. - It was business as usual at the Carrier Dome Tuesday night, as Syracuse picked up another non-conference win, 90-46 over Holy Cross in preliminary game for the Brooklyn Hoops Holiday Invitational.

The win for the Orange made it seven straight victories over the Crusaders.

Andrew White III led the way for SU, finishing with 19 points on 5-of-10 shooting from deep. James Gillon added 15 points and 9 assists.

Orange head coach Jim Boeheim was not ready to celebrate.

"We have a lot of work to do," he said after the game. Mistakes don’t show in games like this, but they’re there. We just have to keep working really hard. There is a long way to go.”      

Raining Threes

Syracuse followed up a mediocre shooting performance against Colgate with a bombardment of outside shots on Tuesday.

The Orange shot 13-of-25 from beyond the arc, good for 52 percent, eclipsing its 35 percent mark from the opener.

"When you shoot the ball that well it makes the game a lot easier," Boeheim said"Andrew got it started and then everybody made a couple."

White led the way with five triples. Tyus Battle chipped in three of his own, and Tyler Lydon and John Gillon had a couple each.

"It's dangerous," Lydon said after the game about the team's three-point shooting. "We have guys who are able to stretch the floor and make the right plays."

Look Out for Lydon

Speaking of Lydon, the preseason-Naismith-watchlist finalist connected on his first two threes of the season after an 0-for-11 drought to begin the year, including the two exhibitions.

Lydon finished the night with 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting, and tacked on 6 rebounds.

"It doesn't matter where he plays," Boeheim said. "He's a good player."

Paint Party

After an eye-opening 6-rebound advantage over Colgate last Friday, Syracuse started boxing out against the Crusaders.

The Orange out-rebounded Holy Cross 39-27, including an impressive 15 offensive rebounds that led to 18 second-chance points.

"The biggest difference early, we missed shots, but we got on the offensive glass," Boeheim said. "It just made it easier. You don't have to rely on just making shots."

SU dominated the interior throughout, given its size advantage, compiling 32 points in the paint and six blocks.

Notes

The point-guard tandem continues to tantalize as Boeheim has two capable floor generals at his disposal. Frank Howard has remained the starter thus far, but he has not hesitated to take him out after a turnover or missed assignment. Gillon, who finished one assist shy of a double-double, checked into the game early at around the 17-minute mark of the first half.

The Syracuse lead reached a peak of 48 points, which allowed Boeheim to clear his bench. 16 different SU players saw the floor on Tuesday, however only eight of them scored.

Holy Cross finished the game shooting 28 percent from downtown, which was actually better than the 25 percent they shot in their opener against South Carolina. Coach Bill Carmody's crew drops to 0-2 on the season, following up a Patriot League title and NCAA Tournament appearance last year.

What's Next?

Holy Cross heads to Worcester, Mass. to play in-state foe UMass on Sunday.

Syracuse continues its Brooklyn Hoops Holiday Invitational schedule with a matchup against Monmouth at the Dome on Friday. Tip is at 7 pm and the game will be aired on ACCN Extra.

Monmouth lost by a point at South Carolina, Tuesday night. Regardless of how it does in the preliminary games, Syracuse will face South Carolina in the Brooklyn Hoops Holiday Invitational at the Barclay Center on Nov. 26.