Nov. 25, 2005
Final Stats Syracuse fans knew it was just a matter of time. After struggling to find his range through the first five games of the season, Gerry McNamara connected on 6-of-11 3-pointers Friday night and scored 22 points as the #17 Orange held off a stubborn Siena team 96-77 in front of 18,447 fans at the Carrier Dome. Senior swingman Antoine Jordan scored a career high 29 points to lead Siena.
"I thought we did a lot of things well tonight," Siena head coach Fran McCaffery said following the game. "I was disappointed that we got away from our game plan a bit and allowed McNamara so many open shots."
Syracuse answered an early 8-0 run to take the lead for good with a 10-0 spurt highlighted by 3-pointers from McNamara and freshman Eric Devendorf. The Saints had jumped out to an early 8-2 lead with three layups and a free throw following a Demetris Nichols dunk that started the scoring.
Siena found success in the middle of the Syracuse zone all night as sophomore Kojo Mensah sliced past the Syracuse front court and found Jordan for easy scores time and again.
Mensah finished the game with 14 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Jordan set his career high for the second straight game, starting his senior season strong.
The Saints could not provide any offense from the outside, converting just 5-22 (22.7%) 3-point attempts after shooting 46% (11-24) in their season opener Monday at Penn.
McNamara had an answer for every run the Saints could manage. He added nine assists and three steals, only converting one turnover.
"If we hadn't made our shots tonight from three, this would have been a closer game," Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. "Fortunately we did."
The Siena defense held tough in the first 10 minutes of the second half, holding the Orange scoreless until McNamara connected on his first of three consecutive threes with 16:30 left. The Saints were as close as11 midway through the half after freshman Kenny Hasbrouck made two free throws with 9:01 left.
Syracuse used an 11-2 run to take its first 20-point lead, 85-65, on a Nichols dunk.
Terrance Roberts scored 18 points and finished the backend of a crowd pleasing ally-oop from McNamara with a thunderous one-hand jam to pace Syracuse's front court. Nichols had a double double with 14 points and 10 boards. The Orange out-rebounded the undersized Saints 45-33. The Saints played some of the first half with no player taller than 6-5 on the floor, as junior forward David Ryan got in early foul trouble.
"We would be happy to play Siena and continue this series," Boeheim said. "We like to play this game. Fran will do a great job with team, and he has the kids playing hard."
The Saints will open their home season Monday against Fordham at Pepsi Arena. Siena will also play Holy Cross and Albany at home next week.
