Golden Grizzlies  60    Orange  92

Oakland (6-6) at (5) Syracuse (11-0)

Sports Network | December 22, 2009

GAME NOTES: The fifth-ranked Syracuse Orange wrap up a three-game homestand tonight, as they host the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in non-conference play at the Carrier Dome.

At 11-0, the Orange are one of eight undefeated teams left in Division I and they are gunning for their first 12-0 start since the 1999-00 campaign. The team was most recently in action on Saturday, when it scored an 85-72 win over St. Bonaventure. It marked the eighth home win of the season for Syracuse, which will begin Big East play on Tuesday at Seton Hall.

As for Oakland, it is playing the final leg of a three-game road trip that began with a 77-68 win over Seattle on Thursday. The Grizzlies though, were unable to build off that win a couple of nights later, falling at Oregon 72-60 on Saturday. The team is now a level 6-6 and that includes a 3-5 mark in true road games.

The Grizzlies and Orange met for the first-ever time on the hardwood last season, with Syracuse cruising to an 86-66 victory in that clash.

On Saturday, Oakland was held to a dismal 32.7 percent shooting effort from the floor, as it was downed at Oregon. The Grizzlies weren't any better from long distance (5-of-20), but they did make the most of their free-throw chances, going 21-of-25 at the line. Keith Benson paced the team in defeat with 14 points, while Drew Maynard and Larry Wright chipped in with 11 and 10 points, respectively. For the season, Benson has a been a force in the paint and he averages a double-double with team highs of 17.7 ppg and 11.1 rpg. Johnathon Jones contributes 12.3 ppg and a team-best 5.0 apg for Oakland and Derick Nelson adds 11.4 ppg and 6.3 rpg to the mix.

The Orange dropped in 56.1 percent of their shots from the field, as they defeated SBU over the weekend. Syracuse controlled the boards, 39-32, as well as outscoring SBU in the paint, 52-34. Rick Jackson led the charge with a double-double of 18 points and 10 boards, while Wes Johnson notched one of his own with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Johnson has been highly effective in his first run with the Orange and he heads the team in scoring (16.5 ppg) and rebounding (7.9 rpg) for the season. Arinze Onuaku follows with 11.1 ppg and Jackson turns in 10.5 pg and 7.4 rpg for a Syracuse club that is generating a healthy 88.0 ppg on the campaign.

Syracuse is the clear choice tonight and it should be able to get everyone involved in a rout of the Grizzlies.

GAME NOTES: The fifth-ranked Syracuse Orange wrap up a three-game homestand tonight, as they host the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in non-conference play at the Carrier Dome.

FACTS & STATS: Carrier Dome (33,633) -- Syracuse, New York. Television: Time Warner. Home Record: Oakland 3-1, Syracuse 8-0. Away Record: Oakland 3-5, Syracuse 0-0. Neutral Record: Oakland 0-0, Syracuse 3-0. Conference Record: Oakland 1-0, Syracuse 0-0. Series Record: Syracuse leads, 1-0.

Syracuse 90, Oakland 67