Spring Break
The Daily OrangeSyracuse finally comes alive in 6th overtime to put UConn away
By Kyle Austin
Posted: 3/13/09, 5:38 AM EST Section: Sports
NEW YORK - It had gotten to the point where Jonny Flynn didn't even care if his Syracuse team beat Connecticut or not.
After five overtimes and more than 60 minutes on the floor, the final score of the Big East quarterfinal game was fast becoming irrelevant to the beleaguered SU point guard.
"For a second I'm just thinking, 'Lord, let's just get this game over, go home,'" Flynn said. "Whoever wins, wins the game. It was getting near that time."
But when Flynn and the Orange stepped onto the floor, they hardly look like the exhausted team they were. No. 18 Syracuse mustered 17 points in the sixth overtime, more than any other extra period, to finally finish off No. 3 Connecticut, 127-117, Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.
The Orange had yet to lead in any of the 25 minutes of overtime and hadn't won any of the game's six jump balls. Eleven seconds into the sixth overtime, it had done both, after forward Paul Harris won the tip and shooting guard Andy Rautins curled around a screen and hit a long 3.
"Sure enough we set the play, we had Andy coming off that screen and boom, he made it," SU head coach Jim Boeheim said. "That was pretty big."
Attrition had taken its toll on both teams by that point: Seven players had fouled out between the two rosters. Syracuse was down to playing freshman reserve forward Kris Joseph at center and walk-on Justin Thomas at shooting guard, and the Connecticut bench was equally thin. But the SU reserves were able to hold onto the late lead to preserve the win.
"We just gotta keep fighting," Rautins said. "We were working with a limited bench, and you can't say enough about their efforts tonight, taking charges and getting rebounds late.
The fast start to the period proved to be a role reversal for Syracuse and Connecticut. In the fifth overtime, Syracuse had gone down by four points before scoring a bucket. In the third overtime, it was six points. The Orange had come from behind to force another period five times, yet couldn't get over the hump to end the game.
After five overtimes and more than 60 minutes on the floor, the final score of the Big East quarterfinal game was fast becoming irrelevant to the beleaguered SU point guard.
"For a second I'm just thinking, 'Lord, let's just get this game over, go home,'" Flynn said. "Whoever wins, wins the game. It was getting near that time."
But when Flynn and the Orange stepped onto the floor, they hardly look like the exhausted team they were. No. 18 Syracuse mustered 17 points in the sixth overtime, more than any other extra period, to finally finish off No. 3 Connecticut, 127-117, Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.
The Orange had yet to lead in any of the 25 minutes of overtime and hadn't won any of the game's six jump balls. Eleven seconds into the sixth overtime, it had done both, after forward Paul Harris won the tip and shooting guard Andy Rautins curled around a screen and hit a long 3.
"Sure enough we set the play, we had Andy coming off that screen and boom, he made it," SU head coach Jim Boeheim said. "That was pretty big."
Attrition had taken its toll on both teams by that point: Seven players had fouled out between the two rosters. Syracuse was down to playing freshman reserve forward Kris Joseph at center and walk-on Justin Thomas at shooting guard, and the Connecticut bench was equally thin. But the SU reserves were able to hold onto the late lead to preserve the win.
"We just gotta keep fighting," Rautins said. "We were working with a limited bench, and you can't say enough about their efforts tonight, taking charges and getting rebounds late.
The fast start to the period proved to be a role reversal for Syracuse and Connecticut. In the fifth overtime, Syracuse had gone down by four points before scoring a bucket. In the third overtime, it was six points. The Orange had come from behind to force another period five times, yet couldn't get over the hump to end the game.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Lindsay J. Rosenberg
posted 3/13/09 @ 1:40 PM EST
The Game For the Ages......Orange Heart and stamina huge! Best feeling since 2003 in New Orleans!!!!
This alum, '75, is proud and happt for Orange nation!!!! Go 'Cuse!!!!!!
Post a Comment