Orange  85    Gators  73

(7) Syracuse (8-0) vs. (10) Florida (8-0)

Sports Network | December 10, 2009

GAME NOTES: Top 10 teams meet in Tampa tonight, as the seventh-ranked Syracuse Orange tangle with the 10th-ranked Florida Gators as part of the Big East/SEC Invitational at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Neither of these teams were ranked prior to the start of the season, but each program has pushed its way into the Top 10 following similar 8-0 starts. The Orange's most noticeable wins have come over California and North Carolina, while the Gators have earned respect with triumphs over Florida State and Michigan State.

Most recently, Syracuse blasted Maine, 101-55, on Saturday, meanwhile, Florida defeated Jacksonville 85-67 on Friday. It marked the second time this season the Orange has scored triple digits, while the Gators' victory was their first true road bout of the campaign.

As for the all-time series, Syracuse has won two of the prior three meetings with Florida and that includes an 89-83 victory in last year's CBE Classic in Kansas City.

The Orange are shooting an efficient 55.7 percent from the floor and 42.0 percent from three-point range, so it's no surprise that the squad is averaging a healthy 90.4 ppg for the season. Wes Johnson has shouldered the load in his first go-around with Syracuse after transferring from Iowa State and he currently tops the roster in scoring (17.0 ppg) as well as rebounding (7.3 rpg). Arinze Onuaku is a good finisher around that basket and he adds 12.5 ppg to the lineup, while freshman Brandon Triche chips in with 11.5 ppg. On Saturday, Triche tallied 16 points and Onuaku finished with 14 to pace Syracuse in a rout of Maine. The Orange shot an unconscious 65.1 percent from the field and that included a 12-of-23 showing from beyond the arc.

The Gators have their own weapons to match Syracuse, but where they have thrived is at the defensive end, holding foes to just 57.9 ppg and only 38.7 percent shooting from the floor. Offensively, freshman Kenny Boynton heads the team with 13.9 ppg and he is also dishing out 3.5 apg. Erving Walker has paired up with Boynton to give Florida a stout backcourt and he puts forth 11.8 ppg and a team-high 5.0 apg. Vernon Macklin turns in 11.3 ppg and 5.9 rpg for the Gators, while Chandler Parsons adds 11.1 ppg and a team-best 6.4 rpg coming off the bench. In the team's last game, Walker dropped in 4-of-5 shots from long range and posted 18 points to lead Florida over Jacksonville. Boynton and Macklin each netted 16 points for Florida, which connected on 56.9 percent of its attempts from the floor and 12-of-20 from three-point distance.

This is a big time clash for a pair of teams that had some uncertainty heading into the campaign. Go with the Gators, as their stingy defense should slow down the Orange enough to pick up the victory tonight.

GAME NOTES: Top 10 teams meet in Tampa tonight, as the seventh-ranked Syracuse Orange tangle with the 10th-ranked Florida Gators as part of the Big East/SEC Invitational at the St. Pete Times Forum.

FACTS & STATS: St. Pete Times Forum (20,500) -- Tampa, Florida Television: ESPN. Home Record: Syracuse 6-0, Florida 5-0. Away Record: Syracuse 0-0, Florida 1-0. Neutral Record: Syracuse 2-0, Florida 2-0. Conference Record: Syracuse 0-0, Florida 0-0. Series Record: Syracuse leads, 2-1.

Florida 77, Syracuse 72