Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMBB | SIX STRONG: Depleted Syracuse escapes with win
By John Clayton
Posted: 1/31/08, 1:50 AM EST Section: Sports
Indeed, both teams lacked any offensive rhythm for long stretches, and shot horribly from beyond the arc. SU was 1-for-13 from 3-point land, while the Blue Demons (9-11, 4-4) were 3-for-18. Overall, the Blue Demons shot just 34.8 percent on the game.
SU's two main scoring options, Jonny Flynn and Donte Greene, both struggled. Greene finished with 14 points on 4-of-15 shooting, while Flynn had six points and one assist.
Still, SU stayed in the game thanks to DePaul's struggles and the play of Onuaku, who carried the Orange on the offensive end with 22 points - including 12 in the second half - on 10-of-13 shooting, and nine rebounds.
"They were playing behind me and they weren't doubling, so I just tried to go at them every time," Onuaku said. "We work on those moves every day in practice, but most teams double. So a team like this that doesn't double, you just go at them."
Syracuse took advantage of icy shooting by DePaul (2-for-15 over the final 8:23 of the first half) to go into halftime on a 13-4 run and lead, 32-31.
SU fell behind briefly in the second half before Onuaku stepped in. With the score 40-38, Onuaku scored 10 of the Orange's next 14 points as SU retook a slim lead even without the services of Greene, who had to sit for six minutes in the second half due to foul trouble.
DePaul cut the lead to one, 54-53, with two Karron Clarke free throws before Harris countered with his own lay-in with a minute to play. Harris and Greene then forced what proved perhaps the game's most crucial play, the Clinkscales turnover.
And after a few free throws to ice the game, it was time for Boeheim to breathe a little easier and reflect on the indomitable effort his team displayed.
"Our kids, they battled hard all year and they've lost the veteran guys we really needed and the young guys have taken as much charge as they really can," Boeheim said. "Kristof, Paul made the free throws, those are big steps for us. Hopefully we can get better as we go along."
SU's two main scoring options, Jonny Flynn and Donte Greene, both struggled. Greene finished with 14 points on 4-of-15 shooting, while Flynn had six points and one assist.
Still, SU stayed in the game thanks to DePaul's struggles and the play of Onuaku, who carried the Orange on the offensive end with 22 points - including 12 in the second half - on 10-of-13 shooting, and nine rebounds.
"They were playing behind me and they weren't doubling, so I just tried to go at them every time," Onuaku said. "We work on those moves every day in practice, but most teams double. So a team like this that doesn't double, you just go at them."
Syracuse took advantage of icy shooting by DePaul (2-for-15 over the final 8:23 of the first half) to go into halftime on a 13-4 run and lead, 32-31.
SU fell behind briefly in the second half before Onuaku stepped in. With the score 40-38, Onuaku scored 10 of the Orange's next 14 points as SU retook a slim lead even without the services of Greene, who had to sit for six minutes in the second half due to foul trouble.
DePaul cut the lead to one, 54-53, with two Karron Clarke free throws before Harris countered with his own lay-in with a minute to play. Harris and Greene then forced what proved perhaps the game's most crucial play, the Clinkscales turnover.
And after a few free throws to ice the game, it was time for Boeheim to breathe a little easier and reflect on the indomitable effort his team displayed.
"Our kids, they battled hard all year and they've lost the veteran guys we really needed and the young guys have taken as much charge as they really can," Boeheim said. "Kristof, Paul made the free throws, those are big steps for us. Hopefully we can get better as we go along."
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