The Daily OrangeRoad Tested: Syracuse uses strong second half run to blow past North Carolina at Madison Square Garden
By Conor Orr
Posted: 11/20/09, 9:49 PM EST Section: Sports
NEW YORK - Andy Rautins swung the ball to a wide open Wes Johnson at the top of the key, while the crowd at Madison Square Garden waited on its feet.
With Syracuse already on a 17-1 run to start the second half, he knew this could be knockout blow. In a game where both teams traded massive run for massive run, Johnson knew this would be the shot to end it all.
"I slowed down, caught it, shot it and when went in and I saw everybody in the crowd and everybody was jumping up after that," Johnson said. "I think we were rolling after that."
With the crowd in a frenzy, Johnson began to dance at half court while a deflated North Carolina team huddled at its bench in attempt to regroup. But the damage was done. The No. 24 Orange (4-0) surged through the first 10 minutes of the second half, allowing it to shock No. 6 North Carolina (4-1) 87-71 in the championship game of the 2K Sports Classic here at Madison Square Garden Friday.
"We definitely realized it," Rautins said of the second-half surge. "The momentum in the crowd you could feel it shift every ten minutes or so and you know, it was a great atmosphere to play in."
Heading into halftime, the Orange was all but deflated from a rollercoaster first half. An 8-0 run to start the game quickly diminished as a brut Tar Heel offense began to flex its muscles.
UNC point guard Larry Drew worked the ball around the perimeter and lofted the ball inside to Ed Davis. The 6-foot-10 225-pound center powered his way to the rim while drawing a series of fouls from the Syracuse frontcourt.
Before long, an 8-0 lead became a 15-12 UNC advantage as Davis sunk another pair of free throws. The offense allowed the Tar Heels to play at its own pace, while the Orange tried to overcompensate, resulting in poor shots and listless turnovers.
"We put ourselves in great situations early in the game but we just got a little complacent," Rautins said. "We just need to know mental lapses sometimes give teams runs like we did tonight."
With Syracuse already on a 17-1 run to start the second half, he knew this could be knockout blow. In a game where both teams traded massive run for massive run, Johnson knew this would be the shot to end it all.
"I slowed down, caught it, shot it and when went in and I saw everybody in the crowd and everybody was jumping up after that," Johnson said. "I think we were rolling after that."
With the crowd in a frenzy, Johnson began to dance at half court while a deflated North Carolina team huddled at its bench in attempt to regroup. But the damage was done. The No. 24 Orange (4-0) surged through the first 10 minutes of the second half, allowing it to shock No. 6 North Carolina (4-1) 87-71 in the championship game of the 2K Sports Classic here at Madison Square Garden Friday.
"We definitely realized it," Rautins said of the second-half surge. "The momentum in the crowd you could feel it shift every ten minutes or so and you know, it was a great atmosphere to play in."
Heading into halftime, the Orange was all but deflated from a rollercoaster first half. An 8-0 run to start the game quickly diminished as a brut Tar Heel offense began to flex its muscles.
UNC point guard Larry Drew worked the ball around the perimeter and lofted the ball inside to Ed Davis. The 6-foot-10 225-pound center powered his way to the rim while drawing a series of fouls from the Syracuse frontcourt.
Before long, an 8-0 lead became a 15-12 UNC advantage as Davis sunk another pair of free throws. The offense allowed the Tar Heels to play at its own pace, while the Orange tried to overcompensate, resulting in poor shots and listless turnovers.
"We put ourselves in great situations early in the game but we just got a little complacent," Rautins said. "We just need to know mental lapses sometimes give teams runs like we did tonight."
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