NO. 2 SYRACUSE REMAINS UNDEFEATED WITH THE 64-52 WIN OVER THE MIAMI HURRICANES

Syracuse' Baye Moussa Keita, right, pressures Miami's Russ DeRemer

No. 2 Syracuse held Miami without a basket for 7½ minutes down the stretch Saturday and made eight consecutive free throws in the final minute to remain unbeaten with a 64-52 victory over the Hurricanes.

 

Miami led 47-46 with less than 7 minutes to go but made only one field goal the rest of the way.

 

Syracuse (19-0, 6-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) need one more victory to tie the school record for most wins to start a season, set two years ago. The ACC newcomers beat defending league champion Miami (10-9, 2-5) for the second time in three weeks.

 

Both teams played zone defense and made points tough to come by for long stretches. The game was nearly 30 minutes old before either side made a fast-break basket.

 

Jerami Grant scored 16 points to lead the Orange, who had a 39-24 rebounding advantage.

 

Davon Reed scored 16 points for the Hurricanes, who kept it close by shooting 9 of 17 from 3-point range.

 

The game drew a sellout crowd, the seventh in coach Jim Larranaga's three seasons at Miami. The stands were a sea of orange, including plenty of visiting or transplanted New Yorkers rooting for Syracuse.

 

Both sides were roaring when the Hurricanes made a comeback after trailing by 18 points in the first half. The Orange had to rally in the final minutes to beat Miami three weeks ago, and the Hurricanes again had an upset on their minds.

 

Reed hit a 3-pointer that cut Syracuse's lead to 46-44, then converted a three-point play on the next possession to put them ahead for the first time since the opening minute.

 

Syracuse dug in. Miami missed its next six shots and trailed 58-50 before making another basket, and by then the game was in the final minute.

 

Tyler Ennis' driving layup put Syracuse ahead to stay, 51-49, with 4:45 left. The Orange shot only 17 for 27 from the free throw line but made them all in the last minute.

 

Miami's James Kelly was helped to the locker room with 3½ minutes to go after he hurt his left leg, an injury which seemed to deflate the Hurricanes. They fell to 4-6 at home this season.

 

Ennis had 14 points, five rebounds and four assists. C.J. Fair added 13 points and seven rebounds, and Trevor Cooney made three 3-pointers and scored 11 points for Syracuse.

 

The Orange, who shot 3 for 15 from 3-point range in their earlier game against Miami, this time made their first three shots from behind the arc. Syracuse went on a 16-1 run to build its big early lead, but Miami rallied with a 16-2 spurt and trailed only 31-26 at halftime.