Spokesman-Review
National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Miami-Florida 66, Syracuse 62
When: 4:00 PM ET, Saturday, January 24, 2015
Where: Carrier Dome, Syracuse, New York
Officials: # Tim Clougherty, # John Gaffney, # Michael Stephens
Attendance: 30677

Miami (Fla.) 66, Syracuse 62: Tonye Jekiri recorded 13 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks as the visiting Hurricanes held off a second-half rally by the Orange in ACC play.

Angel Rodriguez contributed 12 points, eight assists and four steals for Miami (14-5, 4-2 ACC), which won for the fourth time in five games. Davon Reed added 11 points for the Hurricanes, who shot 10-of-29 from 3-point range to win despite almost letting a 12-point second-half lead slip away.

Rakeem Christmas led the way with 23 points, eight rebounds and two blocks for Syracuse (14-6, 5-2), which lost for only the second time in 13 games at home. Trevor Cooney had 14 points, but his potential game-tying 3-pointer in the final seconds missed the mark, while Tyler Roberson added 10 points and 14 boards for the Orange.

Miami made four 3-pointers – two by Omar Sherman -- to build a 24-14 lead before going scoreless for more than 6 1/2 minutes and Syracuse clawed back to tie it 26-26 at intermission. Reed drained 3-pointers to start and end a 13-4 burst that opened the second half as the Hurricanes jumped back in front by nine.

The Orange later ran off 17 of the next 24 points – eight by Christmas – to pull within 54-52 on Ron Patterson’s 3-pointer with just under six minutes to go. Christmas’ basket brought Syracuse within 60-59 while Manu Lecomte and Cooney traded 3-pointers on each team’s next possession, but Rodriguez hit two free throws with 11.2 seconds to go before Cooney’s miss.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Miami coach Jim Larranaga improved to 550-375 in 31 seasons at four different schools. … Syracuse was called for only two fouls in the opening 20 minutes and the Hurricanes did not attempt a free throw until early in the second half. … Miami G Sheldon McClellan saw his streak of 15 consecutive double-figure scoring performances end after recording seven points, but had two big dunks late in the second half.
Top Game Performances
 
Miami-Florida   Syracuse
Tonye Jekiri 13 Scoring Rakeem Christmas 23
Angel Rodriguez 8 Assists Trevor Cooney 4
Tonye Jekiri 15 Rebounds Tyler Roberson 14
Angel Rodriguez 6 Free Throws Made Rakeem Christmas 5
Angel Rodriguez 4 Steals Trevor Cooney 3
Tonye Jekiri 3 Blocks Rakeem Christmas 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Miami-Florida 66 41.1 10-29 10-14 17 29 3 7 8
Syracuse 62 44.4 6-16 8-19 16 32 3 6 13