The No. 6 Syracuse University men’s basketball team (5-0, 0-0 Big East) defeated the University of Arkansas Razorbacks 91-82 Friday at the Bud Watson Arena.
The Syracuse victory marked the Big East’s fifth win in this year’s Big East-SEC Challenge.
Senior forward James Southerland led the Orange with a career-high 35 points. Southerland also tied the SU record for most three-pointers made in a game with nine. Sophomore guard Michael Carter-Williams chimed in with 17 points, 10 boards and nine assists.
The Orange got off to a slow start as Arkansas led the game 10-9 with 16:08 left in the first half, but got some breathing room after Southerland ignited a 21-5 run with a basket from beyond the arc. Arkansas battled back, though, cutting SU's lead to single digits in the final minutes of the half.
The Razorbacks ended the first half trailing Syracuse 43-38 after trailing by as much as 15.
Arkansas cut the Orange lead to two points early in the second half, but SU pulled away with a 14-3 run early on and eventually held on to win.
Sophomore guard BJ Young led Arkansas with 25 points and five rebounds. Junior forward Marshawn Powell dropped 19 points and led the Razorbacks with seven boards.
Syracuse shot 48.5 percent (33-of-68) from the floor and 42.3 percent (11-of-26) from beyond the arc. The Razorbacks weren’t as successful after shooting 38.7 percent (24-of-62) from the floor and 20.8 (5-of-24) percent from beyond the arc.
The Orange kept giving Arkansas chances to come back, though. Syracuse fouled the Razorbacks 25 times in the game, and Arkansas capitalized by shooting 80.6 percent (29-of-36) from the free-throw line.
Syracuse hits the court once again when it hosts Eastern Michigan on Monday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m.
