Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMBB | Dragon Tales: Drexel burns Syracuse for Orange's 3rd non-conference loss
Syracuse falls to 9-3 with 84-79 loss
By Jackie Friedman
Posted: 12/20/06, 12:57 AM EST Section: Sports
Most of Syracuse's 84-79 loss to Drexel on Tuesday night wasn't much different than any of the other recent SU games.
The slow start-after its lead in the first minutes of the game the Orange played from behind until just over three minutes remained in the half, a habit that has become commonplace in the team's non-conference play.
The Demetris Nichols scoring binge-a new career high of 31 points accompanied his past three scoring outputs of 26, 28 and 28.
The Darryl Watkins presence on the boards-his season average was 5.3 rebounds per game, but Saturday against Baylor he accumulated eight rebounds, and Tuesday against Drexel he snatched 13.
But, unlike in its last two victories, there was no fairy tale ending for the Orange.
The Dragons (7-2) sent No. 23 Syracuse to the locker room with its third loss of the season in the Orange's second to last game before the Big East schedule begins. Drexel overcame a 10-point deficit early in the second half to beat Syracuse, 84-79, at the Carrier Dome in front of 16,328 on Tuesday night.
This marks the earliest in a season SU (9-3) has suffered three losses since 1998-99 (Dec. 12, 1998) and the first time the Orange will enter the Big East with at least three losses since the 1981-82 season. The Dragons season kicked off on a different note; they've now defeated Syracuse, Villanova and St. Joseph's, all on the road. Drexel's win over Villanova was its first in school's history; its victory over SU served as its first win over a ranked opponent since the NCAA tournament in 1996.
The Orange led 46-36 two minutes into the second half, but suffered a crisis in the half's middle minutes, scoring only six points in over seven minutes. Nichols, who scored 15 of the team's first 23 points, came up dry for a 13-minute span.
But the difference was in the defense.
Senior forward Terrence Roberts suffered a left knee sprain with less than a minute remaining in the first half and never returned. His numbers in the first half-five points and six rebounds-seem unimpressive. But his coaches and teammates had the scoreboard to remind them of his defensive presence.
The slow start-after its lead in the first minutes of the game the Orange played from behind until just over three minutes remained in the half, a habit that has become commonplace in the team's non-conference play.
The Demetris Nichols scoring binge-a new career high of 31 points accompanied his past three scoring outputs of 26, 28 and 28.
The Darryl Watkins presence on the boards-his season average was 5.3 rebounds per game, but Saturday against Baylor he accumulated eight rebounds, and Tuesday against Drexel he snatched 13.
But, unlike in its last two victories, there was no fairy tale ending for the Orange.
The Dragons (7-2) sent No. 23 Syracuse to the locker room with its third loss of the season in the Orange's second to last game before the Big East schedule begins. Drexel overcame a 10-point deficit early in the second half to beat Syracuse, 84-79, at the Carrier Dome in front of 16,328 on Tuesday night.
This marks the earliest in a season SU (9-3) has suffered three losses since 1998-99 (Dec. 12, 1998) and the first time the Orange will enter the Big East with at least three losses since the 1981-82 season. The Dragons season kicked off on a different note; they've now defeated Syracuse, Villanova and St. Joseph's, all on the road. Drexel's win over Villanova was its first in school's history; its victory over SU served as its first win over a ranked opponent since the NCAA tournament in 1996.
The Orange led 46-36 two minutes into the second half, but suffered a crisis in the half's middle minutes, scoring only six points in over seven minutes. Nichols, who scored 15 of the team's first 23 points, came up dry for a 13-minute span.
But the difference was in the defense.
Senior forward Terrence Roberts suffered a left knee sprain with less than a minute remaining in the first half and never returned. His numbers in the first half-five points and six rebounds-seem unimpressive. But his coaches and teammates had the scoreboard to remind them of his defensive presence.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Joel Cohen
posted 12/20/06 @ 8:38 AM EST
No mention of Harris or Devendorf, did they leave for Christmas break instead of a fast break?
Post a Comment