Atoning for first loss, Syracuse basketball routs Boston College

Boston College 12-12-20
Dec 12, 2020; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Syracuse Orange forward Alan Griffin (0) shoots the ball over Boston College Eagles guard Makai Ashton-Langford (4) during the second half at Conte Forum. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Syracuse bounced back from their first loss of the season in style, breezing past Boston College for a 101-63 road win on Saturday afternoon. The Orange (3-1, 1-0 ACC) jumped on the hosts with an early run to take a double-digit lead in the opening seven minutes and never looked back, eventually using a 35-9 scoring advantage in just over 13 minutes of the second half to suffocate their opponent.

Every starter was in double figures as seven different players scored at least nine points for SU, who simply got whatever they wanted on offense against the Eagles (1-5, 0-1). Syracuse made just under 62 percent of their field goal attempts in the second half and 59 percent of their shots from the field overall, setting a program record by connecting on 16 three-pointers.

The Orange defense was pretty good, as well, holding BC to 35.4 percent shooting in the game, including under 26 percent on threes. SU also performed well inside, a reversal of their performance Tuesday night at Rutgers, owning the glass by a 40-29 margin and outscoring the Eagles in the paint, 38-24.

Syracuse took the lead for good less than three minutes into the action with eight straight points to start a 15-4 run. Buddy Boeheim opened the barrage with a triple, then Marek Dolezaj connected on two foul shots and Joe Girard III added a trey of his own. Boston College dropped in lay-ups around a Quincy Guerrier lay-in, then Alan Griffin buried a three and Guerrier wrapped the run with another lay-up to put the Orange in front, 20-9.

Less than three minutes later, SU would tack on another seven straight points to blow the lead out 15. Girard hit his third three of the opening ten minutes, then Guerrier added another lay-up and shook free of the Eagle defense for an easy two-handed dunk. The slam made the score 32-17 with over seven minutes left in the first half. The margin stayed between 13 and 18 points for the remainder of the half and Syracuse took a 48-30 lead at the break.

The Orange scored the first six points out of the locker room as part of a 10-1 run to squash any comeback hopes. Girard opened the scoring with a lay-up, then fed Dolezaj on a pick-and-roll for another easy score. Boeheim added a driving lay-up to the ledger before a BC foul shot. Boeheim then beat the press to corral a long pass and make a lay-up, then Griffin struck on a midrange jumper to expand the SU lead to 58-31.

Less than two minutes later, Syracuse ripped off 11 straight points as part of a 23-4 run. Boeheim, Girard, and Griffin were responsible for the first 19 points in the burst. Girard and Griffin each buried a pair of triples and Boeheim had one of his own along with a jump shot and a lay-up. Woody Newton added a dunk as the trailer on a fast break and Kadary Richmond coasted through the Boston College defense for a lay-up to stretch the Orange lead to 83-39.

Richmond would later push the lead to its greatest point at 98-50 with a steal and lay-up with just over two minutes to play. The Eagles added ten points to their side of the ledger before Richmond hit a three to close the scoring.

Alan Griffin notched a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double, leading all players in both categories. Griffin scorched the nets from deep, hitting 6-of-9 triples, but also turned the ball over a half dozen times. Buddy Boeheim and Joe Girard III each had 17 points on the day, Boeheim making three threes and Girard five to go with as many assists. Quincy Guerrier had 14 points and Marek Dolezaj ten to go with seven assists and six rebounds. Woody Newton and Kadary Richmond each added nine points, the latter gathering four steals.

» Related: Syracuse loses late lead and bows to Rutgers

James Karnik topped all BC players with 20 points and eight rebounds. Rich Kelly connected on four triples to account for his 12 points and Wynston Tabbs made a trio of treys for the bulk of his 11. Those three players combined for 12 of the Eagles’ 23 field goals in the game with no other Eagle scoring more than six points.

SU is off until next Saturday, when they will welcome Buffalo for a non-conference tilt. Game time is not set yet, but the contest is scheduled to be televised by the ACC Network. The Bulls stand 2-2 on the season, having defeated Mercyhurst by an 81-64 score on Thursday, but will have a road conference game at Miami (Ohio) on Tuesday before facing the Orange.

Four different players average double figures for Buffalo, led by forward Jeenathan Williams’ 19.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Guards Jayvon Graves (17.3 points per game) and Ronaldo Segu (14.8 points per game) provide support to Williams.

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About Jim Stechschulte 894 Articles
A 1996 graduate of Syracuse University, Jim has reported on Syracuse sports for the Syracuse University Alumni Club of Southern California on nearly a decade. He has also written a fantasy basketball column published by NBA.com. He currently resides in Syracuse.