Recap: Syracuse vs. Columbia
Sports Network | November 27, 2009
Syracuse, NY (Sports Network) - Wes Johnson connected on 4-of-5 shots from beyond the arc and finished with a game-high 26 points, as No. 10 Syracuse dominated Columbia, 85-60, at the Carrier Dome.
Arinze Onuaku and Mookie Jones chipped in 12 points apiece to the balanced attack, and Rick Jackson donated 10 and nine rebounds for the Orange (6-0), who have won their first six games this season by an average of 25 points.
"We moved the ball better, and they were giving us open looks against their zone," said Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim. "In the first half we didn't really move the ball or find the shooters very well. The second half, I thought we did a better job finding the right guys, and when we did miss, we got some put-backs, which was good."
Columbia (2-2), which had won two straight since a season-opening, six-point loss to DePaul, was led by Noruwa Agho's 22 points.
The Lions were within one, 16-15, midway through the opening half, but the Orange rattled off eight straight points to take control, as Brandon Triche's layup capped the rally.
The margin was 36-27 heading to the second half, when Syracuse showed its inside-outside efficiency early on.
Onuaku started the scoring with a three-point play and Johnson added a three a little later for a 44-27 lead.
A John Daniels dunk and Agho free throw stopped the 7-0 run, but a Triche layup was immediately followed by a trio of three-balls on consecutive possessions, the last by Jones for a 55-30 cushion just 5:43 into the half.
James Southerland's free throw made it a 30-point game, 71-41, at the seven- minute mark, and it was smooth sailing the rest of the way for the hosts.
It was the 805th career win for head coach Jim Boeheim, moving him past Eddie Sutton for seventh on the Division I all-time wins list...The last time Columbia defeated the Orange was in 1956...Scoop Jardine ended with eight points and seven assists for Syracuse, which shot 52.6 percent from the field and held the Lions to a 37.9-percent shooting effort.
