COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Syracuse Administers Cornell’s Worst Loss

Stephen Thompson didn’t want to hear that Cornell was mismatched against No. 1 Syracuse, even after the Orangemen dealt their neighbors their worst defeat ever.

“These are the kind of games you have to keep your mind in the game and keep giving 100%,” said Thompson, who had 22 points to propel Syracuse (2-0) to a 108-56 victory Wednesday night at the Carrier Dome.

It was the 21st consecutive victory over Cornell and the most lopsided ever posted over the Big Red during that span, eclipsing the 41-point margins in 1979 and 1982. Cornell’s previous worst defeat came against Pennsylvania, which defeated Cornell by a 51-point margin in 1974.

“You take a team like Cornell lightly, and they can get a major, major upset,” said Thompson, who played only 22 minutes.

“You never want to look past anyone,” added teammate Derrick Coleman, who chipped in 20 points in 27 minutes. “College basketball is just so unpredictable.”

Cornell Coach Mike Dement tried to keep his sense of humor after the loss.

“It’s good to know New York has a third NBA franchise. It seems each year the difference gets bigger and bigger,” Dement said. “We tried to be a little slow early, play a little zone. It’s just they killed us on the boards. they kept getting five, six, seven shots each time.”

Cornell (2-1), which made just five of 23 first-half shots, took a 3-2 lead on Shawn Maharaj’s three-pointer with two minutes gone. The Big Red added five points from the foul line before its next field goal 7 1/2 minutes later.

Thompson countered with a three-pointer to give the Orangemen a 25-11 lead, which Syracuse extended to 53-27 at the half.

Duke 102, Canisius 66--Seventh-ranked Duke bolted to an 11-0 lead and Phil Henderson and Christian Laettner paced a balanced attack with 18 points each as the Blue Devils defeated the Golden Griffins at Durham, N.C.

Duke put the game away by outscoring the Canisius, 17-4, over the final 5 1/2 minutes of the first half.

The Blue Devils led 50-24 at halftime and extended the margin to 42 points in the second half. All five Duke starters scored in double figures.

Michigan 85, Grambling St. 70--Sean Higgins scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half to lead the 10th-ranked Wolverines past the Tigers at Ann Arbor.

It was Michigan’s first home game since winning the NCAA championship last spring.

Grambling committed 17 turnovers, and Michigan, after a lethargic start, led 36-26 at the intermission. Higgins scored 12 points in the first eight minutes of the second half as the Wolverines opened a 61-45 lead and coasted the rest of the way.

Arkansas 105, South Alabama 90--Todd Day scored 28 points and Lenzie Howell added 23 to lead the 11th-ranked Razorbacks over the Jaguars.

Day also had nine rebounds for the Arkansas, and Lee Mayberry had 16 points and 10 assists.

South Alabama was led by Alex Stanwood, who hit 10 of 11 shots from the field and eight of 10 free throws for 28 points.

Detroit 108, Duquesne 97--Huey Smith scored four of his 27 points in the second overtime to help the Titans beat the Dukes at Pittsburgh.

Duquesne’s Brian Anselmino forced the first overtime when he made two free throws with no time on the clock.

Detroit’s Bill Wood tied the score as time expired in the first overtime period with a three-point shot. Wood was off balance and guarded by two players but was still able to make the shot to tie the score at 97.

Detroit took advantage of five Duquesne turnovers in the second overtime and outscored the Dukes, 13-2.

Wood also had four points in the second overtime for Detroit.

Michigan St. 80, Nebraska 69--Kirk Manns scored 19 points and Steve Smith added 18 at East Lansing.