Colgate Hangs Tough, Orange Prevail

Colgate Hangs Tough, Orange Prevail

Story by: Erin Fish

Photos by: Jose Cuevas

SYRACUSE, N.Y.– The Syracuse men’s basketball team outlasted Colgate 72-58 on Saturday afternoon in what very well could have been a blow out at the Carrier Dome.

With the win Syracuse improves to 8-1 on the season, while Colgate’s record falls to 3-6 after losing its fourth straight game.

Raiders Battle

Sophomore Tyus Battle got off to hot start scoring 15 points in the first half, making it look as if there was no answer, but Colgate kept digging.

The Raiders had four 3-point shooters that spread the floor and created a significant threat for the Orange. The Raiders finished the day shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc. Coach Jim Boeheim was disappointed with some of the shots that his team allowed Colgate to take, but he gave credit where credit was due.

“Those guys can shoot, they all can shoot,” Boeheim said. “It's a team that has four perimeter guys that all can shoot."

Although Battle had a strong first half and the Orange were shooting 57.7 percent from the field, a lights out shooting performance and a strong defensive effort by the Raiders kept them in the game.

Colgate opened the second half with an 11-5 run and cut the score to 43-37. Freshmen Oshae Brissett and Marek Dolezaj hit back-to-back jumpers to put the Orange back up 47-37 with 13:58 left in the half. Colgate Freshman Jack Ferguson brought the Raiders back within seven when he answered with a 3-pointer.

This was just one of the six 3-pointers Ferguson hit in today’s game. He finished the game with 20 points, shooting 50 percent from the 3-point line.

Inside the Arc

Colgate proved to be a great shooting team, but Syracuse dominated the inside game. The Syracuse defense only allowed the Raiders to reach the foul line four times and while at the line the Raiders only went 2-4.

Syracuse shot 52.1 percent overall from the field and 68.2 percent from the free throw line.

Brissett scored a career high 20 points while junior Frank Howard added 18 points and 6 assists in the win. 

Dolezaj had 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. Although he only had two points today Coach Boeheim is extremely happy with the minutes that the freshman is putting in for the Orange.

"He's one of those players that doesn't really have to score. He makes plays," Coach Boeheim said. "He makes winning plays. That's what he does."

Resting Sidibe

Freshman center Bourama Sidibe dressed for the game against Colgate on Saturday afternoon, but he did not see any playing time. Sidibe had played in every game this season up to this point.

The 6'10 center has been struggling with tendonitis in his knee and he also suffered an ankle injury in the game against Kansas last Saturday. Sidibe attempted to play in the game against UConn at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, but returned to the bench after only 10 minutes.

Coach Boeheim commented after the game that they are hoping his ankle will be better in 2-3 days.

Old Rivalry

The next game for Syracuse will be on Saturday, December 16th. The Orange will travel down to Washington D.C. to take on their former Big East Conference rival, Georgetown.