Syracuse, NY (December 17, 2003)- The Jaspers looked to gain a measure of revenge from the team that knocked them out of the NCAA Tournament last season, and led by eight, 42-34, at the half, but Manhattan's upset bid fell short against the defending national champion Syracuse Orangemen, 69-63.
After a Josh Pace jumper gave Syracuse (4-1) a 2-0 lead 1:14 into the game, Manhattan scored the next 10 points to take the early 10-2 lead. The Orangemen answered with a run of their own to knot the score at 10-10 with 15:33 remaining in the first half.
The rest of the first half was a see-saw battle that saw 11 lead changes and six ties until Manhattan (3-2) outscored Syracuse 14-6 over the last 4:55 of the half to take a 42-34 halftime lead.
Each team shot well in the first half, as the Jaspers shot 59.3% (16-27) and the Orangemen shot 61.9% (13-21). Senior
Jason Benton scored 12 of his season-high 14 points in the first half on perfect six-of-six from the floor.
Syracuse switched from its traditional 2-3 zone to an aggressive man-to-man in the second half, and the Jaspers had touble adjusting as Syracuse scored the first eight points of the second half to even the score at 42-42 with 17:40 left. Syracuse's Billy Edelin scored 12 of his team's first 17 second half points as the Orangemen opened up a four point lead, 52-48, with 12:38 remaining.
Manhattan made just six second half field goals on 26.1% shooting (6-23) as Syracuse gradually built its lead to eight, 64-56, with 4:16 remaining. The Jaspers could get no closer than five the rest of the way.
Joining Benton in double-figures were
Luis Flores (game-high 22 points), and
Dave Holmes, who tallied 12 points and nine caroms.
Edelin led three Syracuse players in double-figures with 17 points. Joining Edelin were Gerry McNamara (16 points) and Hakim Warrick (12 points, 10 rebounds).
The Jaspers return to action on Saturday, December 20, when they battle Richmond at Madison Square Garden as part of the Dreyfus Classic. The game follows the Duke/Texas game and will tip off at approximately 2:30 p.m.
