After a slow start, perhaps attributed to playing their fourth game in nine days, #4 Syracuse overwhelmed Monmouth at the Carrier Dome, 108-56, to secure their 50th consecutive non-conference regular season victory. The Orange (8-0) and Hawks (5-5) played to a draw over the first ten minutes, then the hosts unleashed an onslaught. Seven SU players tallied double figures in points and that balanced scoring was aided by the team rolling up 30 assists on 42 field goals.
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The Orange tallied six straight points early to take a 10-5 lead, but Monmouth replied with six straight of their own to regain the edge. Syracuse later rang up seven straight points for a 19-13 lead, but the Hawks knotted the score before the midpoint of the half. Shortly after that, SU started their barrage, rolling up 11 unanswered points to take a 35-21 lead with just over six minutes left before the break. The Orange closed the half with a 17-3 outburst to take a 57-28 lead at halftime.
Syracuse did not ease off the gas, roaring out of the break with the first 13 points of the second half to go up by 42 with less than two minutes elapsed. SU continued to pile points onto their lead, stretching the margin to 50 points for the first time with a dozen minutes to play. The Orange led by as many as 57 points before head coach Jim Boeheim cleared his bench with 2:20 to play.
» Related: Team effort sparks win over Monmouth
The Orange overloaded the stat sheet, paced by Brandon Triche, who had 18 points and a personal-best eight assists. For the fourth consecutive outing, Michael Carter-Williams posted a double-double, this time with 15 points and 16 assists, the third-highest single game assist total in Syracuse history. Carter-Williams also had five steals and four blocks. Trevor Cooney also had 15 points on via five three-pointers. C.J. Fair posted his second straight double-double, amassing 14 points and ten rebounds. James Southerland also had 14 points. DaJuan Coleman notched his first career double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds while Rakeem Christmas added four blocked shots to his 11 points. Baye Moussa Keita was also in double figures in rebounding, collecting ten boards.
SU is off until next Saturday when in-state opponent Canisius comes calling. The Golden Griffins (5-1) have a game against Marist on Sunday before visiting the Carrier Dome. The game is set for a 7 pm and will be aired on SNY.
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