Syracuse Does Everything but Shoot Well in Victory

Jim Boeheim has learned to take victories any way he can get them in 22 seasons at Syracuse.

“When you don’t shoot well, it looks like an ugly game,” he said Sunday after his Orangemen beat New Mexico, 56-46, in the second round of the NCAA tournament’s South Regional at Rupp Arena.

“But it doesn’t matter how you get there,” he added. “We’ve played a lot of beautiful games and gone home.”

There would be the round of 16, in which fifth-seeded Syracuse (26-8) will play top-seeded Duke at St. Petersburg, Fla., on Friday.

The Orangemen advanced despite shooting 34%. They turned the ball over only eight times, held a 49-36 advantage in rebounds and turned up the wick on a 2-3 zone defense that held fourth-seeded New Mexico (24-8) to 26% shooting, including six for 25 from three-point range.

“We created some good shots and we missed some good shots,” said New Mexico Coach Dave Bliss, whose team had only nine turnovers. “It’s one of those games. Syracuse is one of the best zone teams in the country, and we’re not a team that performs well against a zone.”

Etan Thomas scored six points during a 15-6 run in the second half that put the Orangemen in control.

Syracuse’s Todd Burgan opened the second half with an alley-oop dunk and an 18-foot jump shot from the left wing to give Syracuse a 28-18 lead with 18:45 to play.

New Mexico rallied with a 12-6 run behind Clayton Shields’ two three-pointers and Kenny Thomas’ two free throws and short hook shot to close to 34-30 at 14:05.

Twenty seconds later, Jason Hart ignited Syracuse’s decisive run with a three-point basket. Thomas contributed two free throws, a dunk and layup as the Orangemen opened a 49-36 lead with 8:47 left.

New Mexico got no closer than 53-46 on David Gibson’s two free throws at 2:38.

Surrounded by defenders all game, Kenny Thomas made only four of 16 shots and led New Mexico with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

New Mexico’s strategy early in the game was to shoot over Syracuse’s zone, and it worked for a short time when Henry made two three-pointers and Long drilled another to give the Lobos a 13-9 lead.

But the shots quit dropping for New Mexico, and Syracuse went on an 11-0 run behind Burgan’s six points to go up 20-13.

The Orangemen’s defense proved to be the difference, even if it was ugly.

“They weren’t shooting well, we weren’t shooting well but we were always in control of the game,” said Syracuse guard Marius Janulis, who missed eight of 12 shots and finished with 10 points.