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The Daily OrangeMBB | HANGING ON: No repeat of collapse; faint NCAA hopes alive
By Zach Schonbrun
Posted: 3/6/08, 12:57 AM EST Section: Sports
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Photos: Rachel Fus Production: Stephen Dockery
NEWARK, N.J. - Like a flashback - or a recurring nightmare - there was Syracuse's opponent stubbornly slicing down the SU lead again.
The familiar deer-in-headlights look from last Saturday was back, too. As was the palpable shift in momentum to peel back any of the Orange's youthful exuberance.
Even the head coach noticed it. Jim Boeheim called a timeout with 3:35 remaining in the game and yelled at his players, "You already gave the game away to Pittsburgh, don't do it again tonight!"
And they didn't. For a change, Syracuse hung tough. For once, it was the Orange fit to fend off the rally.
Seton Hall made a late run at a 17-point Syracuse lead but came up short, 85-73, here at the Prudential Center in front of a mixed bag of 9,800 Orange and Pirates fans.
Syracuse (18-12, 8-9) snapped a three-game losing streak, and its faint NCAA Tournament hopes are still alive. Next up is No. 21 Marquette on Saturday at the Carrier Dome (4 p.m., ESPN) in the regular-season finale. After that is the Big East tournament in New York City, beginning Wednesday. And there are plenty of must-wins to go.
But even with a comfortable lead most of the game, Syracuse found itself trying to exorcise its demons with less than five minutes remaining in the contest. Seton Hall (17-13, 7-10) was surging, down only 76-69 with 3:35 remaining, and using its full-court trapping press to fluster the Orange.
It was more than enough to bring back memories of Saturday's home loss to Pitt, when SU blew an 11-point lead in less than four minutes.
"Definitely," SU point guard Jonny Flynn said. "When you see them cutting into the lead like this…"
But unlike Saturday, Syracuse was able to hold strong. It broke the press and got Paul Harris two easy buckets inside. It knocked down free throws, nailing seven of its last 10. And it grabbed a couple of key defensive rebounds to seal the double-digit victory.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Pat Brennan
posted 3/06/08 @ 7:40 AM EST
A big win, a tough win, a satisfying win. Flynn, Harris, Onuaku and the Belgian guy who refused to Waffle. A note on Donte Greene, since the omnibus press coverage of the game seems to highlight his game high 19 points. (Continued…)
jason
posted 3/06/08 @ 2:34 PM EST
Anyone else catch the pregame radio interview where Dante' told Matt Park he would definately be back next year?
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