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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - The funk is over for Syracuse.
After losing three of their last six games, the Orangemen (No. 11 ESPN/USA Today, No. 13 AP) got 46
points from their reserves and forced 22 turnovers Wednesday night
in a 91-63 victory over Villanova.
Starter Jason Hart led the way with nine points, a career-high
14 assists, three steals and only two turnovers. The win came off a
disheartening one-point loss at St. John's on Saturday, and
Villanova coach Steve Lappas saw it coming.
"I told my assistants today, these guys are going to come out
and get after us hard," said Lappas, whose Wildcats had won five
of their previous six. "That's what I was worried about. I was
worried about their defensive pressure on the perimeter more than
anything else, so I'm not surprised at what they did."
What the Orangemen (22-3, 11-2 Big East) did was hold Villanova
to 38.2 percent shooting, including 1-of-18 from 3-point range.
"This was strictly a great defensive effort," Syracuse coach
Jim Boeheim said. "We haven't had this in a long time."
Not since an 88-74 win over defending national champion
Connecticut a month ago.
"I think we sent a strong message," Hart said. "And it was a
confidence-booster for us as well. I think we kind of questioned
our ability, but we have it."
The Orangemen handed Villanova (16-10, 6-7) a loss it could ill
afford if the Wildcats hope to make the NCAA Tournament.
"This is the first time this has happened to us, especially
when things have been going so well," Lappas said. "You wonder
how the kids will respond."
Any visions Villanova might have had of extending its Carrier
Dome winning streak to four quickly disappeared behind the
Orangemen's determined man defense and hot shooting. They shot 51.4
percent for the game (36-for-70).
Syracuse used a 26-4 run in a nine-minute span early in the game
to erase any doubts about the outcome.
"That was big," said reserve DeShaun Williams, who had 15
points. "That opened up a lot of early things. Once we hit some
shots, they changed and they had to play harder. We made them play
our game. We got some steals, got in the lane, and opened up a big
lead."
While the Orangemen were hitting 12 of their first 20 shots, the
Wildcats sputtered, converting just 3-of-14. Villanova, which
entered the game hitting 36 percent of its 3-point shots, missed
all nine attempts in the first half.
"They were just pressuring us, getting in the passing lanes,"
said Malik Allen, who had 13 points for Villanova. "They made it
tough for us to make a lot of passes. They did a great job getting
into it from the start of the game to the end."
Ryan Blackwell, who had 10 points and nine rebounds, began the
Syracuse splurge with two rebound baskets, Preston Shumpert hit a
3-pointer, Etan Thomas converted a three-point play and Williams
contributed a pair of 3s to put Syracuse up 32-10 with 9:42
remaining in the opening half.
Hart's hustle -- he had eight assists and one turnover in the
first half -- keyed the Orangemen's rush to a 46-30 at the break.
"I think this is our best defensive performance of the year,"
said Shumpert, who also had 15 points in a reserve role.
"Everybody played well tonight."
A layup by Brooks Sales got Villanova within 13 points at 46-33
in the first minute of the second half, but the Orangemen got a
layup from Blackwell, a 3-pointer by Shumpert, a dunk by Etan
Thomas off a Blackwell feed underneath, and a pull-up jumper by
Shumpert to boost the lead to 56-36 with 17 minutes left.
Ricky Wright had 18 points and Sales 11 for Villanova. Brian
Lynch, who was averaging 11 points a game, missed all nine of his
shots from the floor and did not score.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Villanova Clubhouse
Syracuse Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Jason Hart dishes to Etan Thomas on the break.
avi: 836 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
DeShaun Williams steals the inbounds pass and takes it in.
avi: 636 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Tony Bland makes the steal and finishes at the other end.
avi: 938 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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