Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMBB | Syracuse sneaks by Virginia to stay unbeaten
By Michael Bonner
Posted: 11/28/08, 11:42 PM EST Section: Sports
|
But the shooting guard needed no introduction. Rautins and Flynn tied for team-high 15 points. More importantly, Rautins had all four of the Orange's 3-pointers - two of which came in a 48 second window midway through the second half, that propelled SU (6-0) to a 73-70 win over Virginia (3-2) Friday night at the Carrier Dome.
The consecutive 3-pointers forced Virginia to call a timeout, prompting Paul Harris to raise both hands over his head, as if signaling a touchdown. It left Flynn with an ear-to-ear smile while he skipped back to the huddle. And left the 22,096 fans in attendance on their feet all with the same thought.
"That it was pretty much over," junior guard Eric Devendorf said of Rautins' back-to-back 3's that put SU on top. "Because once we get that lead we're going to dig out and play some hard nose defense and that's what we did and it got us the victory."
SU had trailed for all but 62 seconds of the first half, and all of the second half until Rautins' deep range jumpers. After the shots, the Orange never looked back, extending the lead to six, although three missed free throws down the stretch to make it close.
"We just got out played more aggressive in the second half," Rautins said. "We went to what was working for us and we went on a little run. This game is a game of runs."
Rautins sparked the runs with his ability to pass the ball as well. The junior finished with three assists, two of which came in the final ten minutes of the game. But all three came via the same play - luring the defense in on a threat of a 3-point basket.
Rautins up faked, then drove three times resulting in a layup and two dunks for the Orange by Flynn and Rick Jackson respectively.
"We were running the three play for Andy and they were spreading out," head coach Jim Boeheim said. "Andy said the next time after he caught it he was going to the lane. And he went in the lane and Ricky got a dunk, I think he got two dunks off the same thing."
The effort displayed after the lead change was in stark contrast to the Orange's energy in the first half and much of the second. The Cavaliers enjoyed a 13 point lead in the first half and a 12 point with just less than 17 minutes remaining in the second.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Marc LeVine
posted 12/01/08 @ 9:43 AM EST
Defense...Defense...Defense.
Let's try to hold some teams around 58-60 pts. On nights we slump with the scoring, we are going to pay for the lack of aggressive D. (Continued…)
Post a Comment