NCAA MIDWEST REGIONAL : Syracuse Gets Well in Time to Beat Southern Illinois, 96-92.

Syracuse lost seven of its last 10 games and needed to plug some holes in what has seemed like a sinking ship.

Great shooting will help a situation like that everytime.

The Orangemen (20-9) hit 67.9% of their shots and needed every one of them is beating an equally hot Southern Illinois, 96-92 Friday.

It was, said Syracuse Coach Jim Boeheim, the best offensive game an Orangemen team has ever played in the NCAA tournament. “And boy, did we need it,” Boeheim added.

Inside work from John Wallace and outside shooting by Lucious Jackson were the keys in beating the Salukis (23-9), which got 26 points from Chris Carr and 21 from Shane Hawkins, who hit seven of eight three-point shots.

Southern Illinois shot 65.5% and hit 15 three-point baskets.

“To finish the way we finished and make every play was tremendous for our players. We had to make every free, throw and play down the stretch,” Boeheim said. “Nobody has ever shot like that against us. I thought both teams offensively played games as well as they can be played.”

The seventh-seeded Orangemen hit six free throws in a row in the final 17.6 seconds to overcome a late comeback by Southern Illinois, which pulled close on consecutive three-point baskets by Carr in the final 12 seconds.

“I thought we did everything we could to win the basketball game said Saluki Coach Rich Herr “We were very well prepared a it was a great effort as far as i concerned.”

Southern Illinois had 10 first three-pointers and nearly pulled the upset with late bombs from behind the are, but the Orangem never wavered as Lawrence Moten the all-time leading scorer in the Big East Conference, made six free throws in the final 1:01 to help the victory. Moten finished with 19 points.

“I have never liked ‘threes,” said Boeheim. “It can equalize a lot of things.

“You just don’t think a team’s going to go out there and shoot like that. Nobody has done that against our defense.”

The Salukis’ 15 three-point baskets broke the previous Midwest Regional mark of 14 set by Duke against Southern Illinois in 1993.

The Orangemen got 24 points from Wallace on 10-of-15 shooting from the field and 22 from Jackson who had six three-pointers.