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The Daily OrangeMBB | Rough Rhode: Syracuse's second-half meltdown helps Rhode Island pull off dramatic upset
By Zach Schonbrun
Posted: 12/8/07, 11:19 PM EST Section: Sports
Syracuse (6-3) appeared to gain the edge when Paul Harris was fouled taking a transition lay-up with 1:47 remaining to give SU an 87-84 lead, but the Rams came right back with two free throws and a lay-up to grab the lead.
Finally, down 91-89 with 5.6 seconds on the clock, Syracuse couldn't get the ball to its shooters and eventually ended with Harris' desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer hitting the front rim.
"We just tried to push it and just go as far as we could," Boeheim said of the last play.
"This was one of the most exciting wins I've ever been a part of," URI head coach Jim Baron said, "just because the game was going back and forth and it was like two heavyweight fighters going at each other."
Similar to its 107-100 loss to Massachusetts on Nov. 28, the Orange held a halftime advantage and was let down by its defense in the second half. URI scored 48 points after the break despite shooting only 38.9 percent from the field. Twenty-seven trips to the free-throw line on top of 15 offensive rebounds - including several off missed free throws - were the accountable factors for Syracuse's second-half self-destruction.
"I don't even think it was our defense, our defense was pretty good, it was just the rebounding," said Donte Greene, who was held to 12 points in 32 minutes after fouling out.
Rhode Island started the game red hot from outside and quickly a 14-11 lead after four consecutive 3-pointers by guard Jimmy Baron, who among the nation's leaders in 3-point field goals made. But the Orange went on a 22-8 run heading into halftime that seemed like enough to carry it through for a comfortable victory.
In the second half, though, early foul trouble limited what the Orange could do defensively and also put key players Eric Devendorf and Greene on the bench. And as the crowd grew more and more disenchanted with the refereeing, SU seemed to collapse with its own inexperience.
"Not to blame on the refs or nothing, but there were a lot of crazy calls out there. It is what it is," said SU forward Paul Harris, who finished with a season-low two rebounds.
Nothing could explain Syracuse's disappearance on the defensive boards, an area that seemed to be a strong point for the Orange all season long. SU allowed 21 offensive rebounds to a smaller, more physical Rhode Island team that used its hustle and aggressiveness to its advantage.
SU's top three rebounders - Harris, Greene and Arinze Onuaku - finished with just 17 rebounds combined and just six on the offensive end.
Between the poor rebounding and the unsettling foul calls, it was a nightmarish evening for Syracuse and a complete reversal from the feeling after Wednesday's win at Virginia.
"We're definitely not living up to the expectations," Flynn said. "We came into the season with so much hype. One of the top five freshman classes in the country, but you know we're not living up to that hype. We're not winning games."
Finally, down 91-89 with 5.6 seconds on the clock, Syracuse couldn't get the ball to its shooters and eventually ended with Harris' desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer hitting the front rim.
"We just tried to push it and just go as far as we could," Boeheim said of the last play.
"This was one of the most exciting wins I've ever been a part of," URI head coach Jim Baron said, "just because the game was going back and forth and it was like two heavyweight fighters going at each other."
Similar to its 107-100 loss to Massachusetts on Nov. 28, the Orange held a halftime advantage and was let down by its defense in the second half. URI scored 48 points after the break despite shooting only 38.9 percent from the field. Twenty-seven trips to the free-throw line on top of 15 offensive rebounds - including several off missed free throws - were the accountable factors for Syracuse's second-half self-destruction.
"I don't even think it was our defense, our defense was pretty good, it was just the rebounding," said Donte Greene, who was held to 12 points in 32 minutes after fouling out.
Rhode Island started the game red hot from outside and quickly a 14-11 lead after four consecutive 3-pointers by guard Jimmy Baron, who among the nation's leaders in 3-point field goals made. But the Orange went on a 22-8 run heading into halftime that seemed like enough to carry it through for a comfortable victory.
In the second half, though, early foul trouble limited what the Orange could do defensively and also put key players Eric Devendorf and Greene on the bench. And as the crowd grew more and more disenchanted with the refereeing, SU seemed to collapse with its own inexperience.
"Not to blame on the refs or nothing, but there were a lot of crazy calls out there. It is what it is," said SU forward Paul Harris, who finished with a season-low two rebounds.
Nothing could explain Syracuse's disappearance on the defensive boards, an area that seemed to be a strong point for the Orange all season long. SU allowed 21 offensive rebounds to a smaller, more physical Rhode Island team that used its hustle and aggressiveness to its advantage.
SU's top three rebounders - Harris, Greene and Arinze Onuaku - finished with just 17 rebounds combined and just six on the offensive end.
Between the poor rebounding and the unsettling foul calls, it was a nightmarish evening for Syracuse and a complete reversal from the feeling after Wednesday's win at Virginia.
"We're definitely not living up to the expectations," Flynn said. "We came into the season with so much hype. One of the top five freshman classes in the country, but you know we're not living up to that hype. We're not winning games."
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Marc LeVine
posted 12/10/07 @ 12:09 PM EST
This game told us a few things.
1. We have a young and talented team that is still developing and will be a real force - not this year - but over the next few. (Continued…)
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