Joseph scores 1,000th career point as SU downs Manhattan

The No. 5 Syracuse University men’s basketball team (2-0) defeated the Manhattan Jaspers (1-1) 92-56 Monday at the Carrier Dome in the Dick's Sporting Goods National Invitation Tournament’s Season Tip-Off first round.

Syracuse sophomore guard Dion Waiters led all scorers with 17 points off the bench, followed by senior forward Kris Joseph, who had 15 points. Sophomore center Fab Melo also recorded a game-high nine rebounds for the Orange.

Photo: Chris Janjic

Fab Melo fights for the ball in the team's game against Manhattan College on Monday. Melo recorded a game high of nine rebounds for the Orange.

Monday was a historic night for Joseph, as he reached the 1,000-point mark for his Syracuse career against the Jaspers.

“It’s big for me because I’ve always dreamed of doing it,” Joseph said. “It’s an unbelievable accomplishment for myself and my family.”

The Orange came out of the gate sloppy, committing three turnovers within the first five minutes and trailing 5-0 at one point. Syracuse regrouped quickly, by going on 20-3 run that lasted more than three minutes. The Orange continued to pour it on the Jaspers all the way to the end of the first half by scoring 22 point off turnovers, 27 fast break points and 20 point off the bench.

Syracuse also shot 57 percent from the floor and 53 percent from beyond the arc, propelling them to a 52-26 lead at halftime.

The second half saw more Orange and also more fouls. The Jaspers committed 10 fouls within the first six minutes of the half. Joseph said the amount of fouls committed by the Jaspers might have been due to a change in game plan.

“In the first half, they weren’t as aggressive,” Joseph said. “I guess they came out with a new game plan to kind of get us out of our rhythm, but we were able to overcome that...We couldn’t do anything about the fouling. The refs were making the calls.” 

The Orange also committed 10 fouls in the second half. Otherwise, the Orange had no problem putting away the Jaspers due in great part to its offensive performance.

The Syracuse offense shot 47.9 percent from the floor, scored 40 points off of turnovers and received 50 points from the bench. The Orange also scored 42 fast break points in the game. Sophomore forward CJ Fair said Syracuse tried to run the offense before the defense was able to get set, and that led to good transition offense.

The Orange defense also had a solid performance, holding Manhattan’s offense to 31.6 percent shooting from the floor 33 percent from beyond the arc. Syracuse started off the game playing man-to-man defense instead of its trademark 2-3 zone defense. Waiters said the team felt good playing man-to-man defense.

“We play man-to-man every day in practice,” Waiters said. “We get each other better just from practice.

“Sticking guys like [Jardine] every day, you’re going to get better. He’s a smart guard, and he’ll make you think.”

Waiters also said the team feels confident playing both man-to-man defense and zone defense.

Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim, believes that his team made some mistakes on defense.

“Defensively, we made some simple mistakes that we need to work on, obviously,” Boeheim said.

Boeheim also said he believes Syracuse didn’t rebound as well as it should have.

The Orange returns to the court Tuesday against Albany at 7 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.