SU Basketball: Syracuse vs North Florida

Syracuse men's basketball snaps two-game losing streak with victory over North Florida

White hits seven 3-pointers in SU's 77-71 win at the Carrier Dome

The Syracuse Orange snapped its two-game losing streak on Saturday afternoon, edging the University of North Florida Ospreys, 77-71, at the Carrier Dome.

Guard Andrew White III once again led the Orange (5-2), pouring in 26 points, grabbing four rebounds and dishing out two assists in the contest. The graduate transfer from Nebraska made a season-high seven 3-pointers in his 38 minutes of action and continues to prove how important he is to Syracuse as the team approaches ACC play early next month.

Photo: Emma Wishnow

Freshman guard Tyus Battle was inserted into the starting lineup for the first time in his career, replacing forward Tyler Roberson. Battle made the most of his opportunity, finishing the game with 19 points while connecting on four of his five 3-point attempts.

“[Battle] gets in the right areas and they find him,” Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said following the game. “He shot the ball extremely well from the first day of practice. He’s really worked on it and he’s shooting well. Better than we thought.”

One game after scoring 12 points in a loss to Wisconsin, redshirt senior center DaJuan Coleman added a career-high 15 points. Coleman also grabbed six rebounds in the contest and was greeted with a standing ovation by the Orange faithful upon exiting the game.

“I just got to the open spots,” Coleman said following the game. “We’ve been doing a good job moving the ball.”

Guard Frank Howard finished the game with 10 points, 13 assists and 4 steals—becoming the first SU player since Michael Carter-Williams (2012) to notch multiple double-figure assist games in a single season. Howard previously recorded 11 assists in Syracuse’s victory over South Carolina State on Nov. 22.

“I thought Frank [Howard] had a really good game,” Boeheim said. “I thought his defense was good, I thought both he and Tyus [Battle] did a good job for a long time at the top of the zone.”

Boeheim utilized a shorter rotation for most of the game. Three Orange players—White, Battle and forward Tyler Lydon—received more than 36 minutes of game action. Lydon finished the game with six points and nine rebounds.

The Orange led by as many as 21 points, but the Ospreys—led by guard Dallas Moore’s 30 points—trimmed the lead down to five late in the second half.

North Florida (3-7) grabbed 17 offensive rebounds and topped Syracuse, 41-33, on the glass in the contest. The Orange has been outrebounded in its last three games.

Syracuse has a quick turnaround as its next matchup against long-time Big East rival UConn will be on Monday at Madison Square Garden. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00pm.

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