Syracuse Dominates Boards Again in Win over Toledo

Story and Photos by Peter Benson

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Syracuse men’s basketball team beat Toledo 72-64 in the final on-campus game of the Hoophall Miami Invitational at the Carrier Dome on Thanksgiving Eve. 

Syracuse will be happy with the result but Coach Jim Boeheim knew that he was a little lucky to remain undefeated on the season.

Despite giving up 12 three-pointers to a Toledo team that shot 48 percent from beyond the arc, the Orange out-rebounded the Rockets 50-31, creating 22 second chance points. Syracuse needed its defensive tenacity and ferocious interior play to see this game out. 

“When you can overcome that,” Boeheim said. “That’s a good win.”

First Half Troubles from Deep

Syracuse ended the first half a point up, 33-32. If the Orange hadn’t been carried by the interior play of backcourt duo Frank Howard and Tyus Battle, the Rockets could have easily been up by a lot, shooting an efficient 44 percent themselves.

The Orange shooters were woeful from beyond the line, hitting 2-11 (18.2 percent) from distance in the first half. The home side missed its first eight 3-pointers before Oshae Brissett stopped the bleeding. 

It didn’t appear to matter as Howard and Battle carried the early offensive load, scoring 18 of Syracuse’s first 21 points

“I want to be in the mode of being hard to got at,” Howard said.

No Battle, No Problem

Battle took a nasty fall in the second half. The crowd held its collective breath as it waited impatiently to see if he would get up. He rose to a nervous applause and limped from the court. 

“He’s fine,” Brissett said. “He tried to play again but stuff just tightens up.”

Battle returned to the game after a short timeout but left the game with the score at 44-37, clutching his back after a routine 2-point attempt. He did not return.

“He was out for the game,” Boeheim said when asked if Battle would’ve returned late if it was close. 

Without Battle, the Carrier Dome crowd spurred the Orange on with emotion. Shortly after Battle’s exit, Brissett knocked down Syracuse’s third 3-pointer of the night to a huge roar. 

The home crowd continued to be a factor as the Orange opened up a lead as large as 14. The frenzy culminated in a Brissett and one after a drive inside. The Orange’s best player and leader being out wasn’t going to mean a loss.

Brissett Turns it On

With Battle out, the crowd was looking for someone to take over and freshman Brissett stepped up. The forward finished with a double-double (17 points, 14 rebounds), 10 points coming after Syracuse’s star guard left the floor. 

“I just try to make that an every day thing,” Brissett said. “Focus on rebounding and scoring. Just the things coach wants me to do.”

The freshman was called upon multiple times and came through when Syracuse needed him. 

“Frank and Oshae were the difference in the second half,” Boeheim said. “Oshae got aggressive, got to the basket.”

Frank Howard had a career night, posting 25 points, a new high for him. Brissett’s performance on both ends of the floor was a bigger reason the Orange escaped with this win.

Boards, Boards, Boards

Again, Syracuse dominated in rebounding. Coming into the game, the Orange had been out-rebounding opponents by over 14 boards a game and was averaging 46 rebounds per game. Syracuse continued that dominance with 50 boards against Toledo.

“We’re bigger, we’re a little more aggressive and we’re also going after the ball better,” Boeheim said.

Even though both rim protectors, Pascal Chukwu and Bourama Sidibe, fouled out of the game, Brissett and Moyer managed to help grab the necessary rebounds to slow Toledo’s shooting-oriented attack. 

“If we don’t rebound, we get taken out the game,” Brissett said.

The fouling out is a concern. Boeheim said that it is what young players will sometimes do; that they need to learn from the mistakes they’ve made. The Orange has plenty of size and depth on their roster to keep winning the battle of the boards.

Up Next

Syracuse faces Maryland in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Monday, Nov. 27 in the Carrier Dome before heading to Miami for the final game in the Hoophall Miami Invitational against Kansas on Saturday, Dec. 2.