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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Even though DePaul knew what to expect
from Preston Shumpert, the Blue Demons couldn't do anything against
the Syracuse guard.
Shumpert scored a career-high 36 points and Syracuse held off a
furious second-half rally to upset No. 21 DePaul 92-84 in the
opening round of the Great Alaska Shootout on Thursday night.
|  | | Syracuse's Allen Griffin brings the ball up court against Rashon Burno during Thursday's victory. |
"We had all preseason to prepare for Preston, and we didn't get
it done," DePaul coach Pat Kennedy said. "He was a one-man gang
out there. You can't let a guy like that loose and let him light it
up."
DeShaun Williams had 25 points and Damone Brown 16 for the
Orangemen (2-0).
Lance Williams led DePaul (1-1) with 18 points, and Bobby
Simmons had 17 points and 13 rebounds.
"My team did a good job of finding me in key situations,"
Shumpert said.
One of those situations came with 3:58 remaining after the Blue
Demons had trimmed a 21-point deficit to 80-73. Shumpert drained a
3-pointer to blunt the rally.
"I think without that shot the game goes down to the wire,"
Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said.
Syracuse led the entire game, jumping out to a 19-4 less than
seven minutes in. DePaul got no closer than six.
Syracuse led 69-52 with 10:35 left in the game, but the
Orangemen's frontcourt got into foul trouble and created an
opportunity for DePaul to mount a comeback.
The Blue Demons whittled the lead to 80-73 on Williams' jump
hook with about 4:25 left. But Shumpert drained a 3-pointer to
stifle the comeback temporarily.
After Orangemen centers Billy Celuck and Jeremy McNeil fouled
out, a 3-pointer by DePaul's Rashon Burno cut the margin to 86-80
with 1:05 left. But Brown hit five free throws and Allen Griffin
one in the final 44 seconds to seal the win.
The Blue Demons had trouble penetrating Syracuse's zone in the
first half as the 7-foot Celuck blocked two shots and disrupted
attempts to pound the ball inside. DePaul turned the ball over 11
times in the first 20 minutes as Syracuse led by as many as 16.
DePaul got 10 points from reserve Steve Hunter and the Blue
Demons made 13 of 17 free throws in the first half.
Syracuse faces Ohio State and Missouri takes on Valparaiso in
the semifinals on Friday. Rhode Island takes on Alaska-Anchorage
and DePaul will face Florida State in the consolation bracket.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
DePaul Clubhouse
Syracuse Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Damone Brown takes the pass in the lane for a hoop and the foul.
avi: 698 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Steve Hunter hits the fade-away jumper for a DePaul bucket.
avi: 549 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Damone Brown blocks a shot and takes it the distance for the slam.
avi: 685 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Imari Sawyer makes the basket as he falls to the floor.
avi: 531 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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