Dec. 20, 2003

Box Score?|? Photo Gallery

By JOHN KEKIS
AP Sports Writer

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - Hakim Warrick had 24 points and 10 rebounds and Craig Forth added a career-high 14 points to lead No. 19 Syracuse to a 74-61 victory over Siena on Saturday.

It was the fifth straight victory for Syracuse (5-1) and the fifth straight loss for the Saints (3-5).

Billy Edelin had nine points, eight rebounds, six assists and no turnovers, Gerry McNamara added 12 points, and Josh Pace 11 for the Orangemen.

Michael Haddix led Siena with 19 points and nine rebounds, Austin Andrews had 14 points and Justin Miller 10.

The Orangemen took command with a 17-4 run in the first half that began after Haddix hit a layup over Forth's outstretched arms with 8:57 remaining to move Siena within 20-19. Warrick scored seven points and Forth hit for five to key the spurt.

Warrick's one-hand slam dunk finished a three-way passing play with McNamara and Forth, who had eight points and five rebounds in the first half.

After Forth hit a 16-foot jumper in the lane, he hit a reverse hook off a baseline feed from Warrick, was fouled and sank the free throw for a 32-23 lead at 5:07.

Warrick hit a spinning slam dunk and McNamara followed with a runner in the lane to finish the run.

Syracuse scored 13 points off Siena's 11 turnovers in the first half. The Orangemen also held a 13-3 edge in offensive rebounds in the period.

A dunk by Forth and a fast-break layup by Louie McCroskey gave Syracuse its biggest lead, 58-37, with 11:58 left in the game before Siena rallied with a 20-8 run.

Haddix had nine points to lead the Saints back. He hit a fast-break layup after McNamara missed a 3 as the Saints closed to 66-57 with 4:51 to play, but they never got closer.