SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse opened the second half on a 19-4 run, pulling away after a defensive-minded first half and opening the season with a 77-45 win over Cornell on Friday evening at the Carrier Dome. The Orange won for the 38th consecutive time in the series dating all the way back to 1968.
Junior
Matt Morgan scored 14 points and freshman Jimmy Boeheim, playing against and on the same court named for his legendary Hall of Fame namesake, netted 11 points with five rebounds in his first collegiate game. The rookie scored the game's first five points that set up a rock fight between two defenses looking to make their mark in the opener. The Big Red limited the Orange to 31 percent shooting in the first half and 41 percent for the game, but could never find any offensive rhythm against Syracuse's fabled zone. Cornell hit on just 25 percent of its shots overall and 15 percent (4-of-27) from 3-point range.
Cornell hung around in the first half thanks to its defense, thought nearly half of Syracuse's first half points (15-of-33) came on second chance opportunities. The offensive glass saved the Orange, and Cornell couldn't take advantage of its few good chances. Trailing by six with under three minutes left in the first half, the Big Red got a stop and found Morgan for an open 3-pointer. The shot rimmed out and Syracuse was able to connect on a trey of its own for the quick turnaround. THe home team eventually settled in with an 11-point lead at the break.
Syracuse put the game out of reach early in the second 20 minutes, building the edge to 23 by the first media timeout as part of a 16-4 run. Cornell never got within 20 points the rest of the way.
Tyus Battle had 18 points to lead Syracuse, while Geno Thorpe (10 points) and Oshae Brissett (11 points, 10 rebounds) also were in double figures. Matthew Moyer had 10 boards for the home team, which held a decisive 54-36 edge on the glass, including 21 offensive rebounds.
Notes to Know
• Morgan reached double figures in scoring for the 52nd time and for the 24th consecutive game.
• Beside's Boeheim's 11 points, junior transfer Steven Julian (four points) and freshmen Riley Voss (one point) and Jake Kuhn (one point) also scored their first collegiate point.
• Newcomers were credited with 17 of the team's 30 individual rebounds.
• Senior
Jordan Abdur-Ra'oof saw his first minutes of the season after missing 2016-17 with an injury, getting a dunk to go along with a rebound and an assist in four minutes.
Twitter Bytes
Â
Next Up
• Cornell will welcome Central New York rival Binghamton to Newman Arena for its home opener on Monday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.
Â
