#15/16 Connecticut Hands Orange 88-70 Defeat - Syracuse University Athletics

Box Score

STORRS, CONN. – The #15/16 Connecticut Huskies (21-6, 13-3) handed the #13/t13 Orange (24-6, 11-5) it worst loss this season by defeating SU, 88-70, on Saturday, March 5 at Gampel Pavilion.

It was the first time since January 23, 1995 that the two teams have squared off in Storrs. The most recent six SU-Connecticut encounters at Connecticut have taken place in the Hartford Civic Center.

Senior Hakim Warrick scored a game-high 25 points, including 15 points in the first half, and grabbed six rebounds. Senior Josh Pace and junior Gerry McNamara each scored 12 points and senior Craig Forth had a team-high eight boards and added eight points.

With the scored tied 37-37 at halftime, Connecticut used a 16-8 run during the first six minutes of the second frame to take control of the game. Josh Boone notched seven points during the stretch and Charlie Villanueva tallied five. Forth had a dunk with 12:49 left in the game cutting the lead to 10, 57-47, but the Orange wouldn't get any closer than that the rest of the way.

Connecticut took an 11-4 advantage during the first three and a half minutes of the contest, when the Orange scored the next eight points as it took a one-point lead, 12-11, with 13:11 to play before half. With the score 21-21, Syracuse used a 10-4 run to take a 31-25 margin at the 4:42 mark. Ed Nelson netted four consecutive points to pull the Huskies within two, 31-29, with 4:04 remaining in the first half, and Nelson would again hit a jumper 49 seconds before the half to tie the contest at the break.

Denham Brown finished the game with 21 points. Villanueva paced the Huskies with 14 rebounds and added nine points. Rudy Gay scored 16 points, Marcus Williams had 11 points and Josh Boone finished with 10 points.

Connecticut went 26-of-48 from the field (.542) the best percentage by an Orange opponent this season. The Huskies attempted 36 free-throws and converted 30, both numbers the most by an SU opponent this season. Syracuse went to the line for 39 attempts, making 22. SU also lost the rebounding battle, 46-40, and the Huskies held the Orange to 23-75 from the floor (.307).

The Huskies have won the last four home meetings with SU.

The Orange clinched the No. 3 seed and a first-round bye the BIG EAST Tournament. The tournament begins Wednesday, March 9 at Madison Square Garden. Syracuse's first game will be Thursday night, March 10 at 9:00 p.m. against the winner of the No. 6 versus No. 11 contest. The game will be televised on ESPN.