Seton Hall University
[5] No. 19 Syracuse
MBB Season Ends With Loss to Cuse
3/13/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Junior Aaron Cosby (Louisville, Ky.) scored a game-high 22 points, but it wasn't enough as the Seton Hall men's basketball season came to an end with a 75-63 loss to fifth-seeded Syracuse in the second round of the 2013 BIG EAST Championship on Wednesday.
Seton Hall completes the 2012-13 season with a final record of 15-18.
Seton Hall started the game on fire from long range. Junior Brian Oliver (Glassboro, N.J.) connected on a three-pointer just 13 seconds into the game, and Kyle Smyth (River Edge, N.J.) followed with a trifecta two minutes later to give the Pirates an early 6-0 advantage. Syracuse's Brandon Triche responded with a three-pointer of his own, but it only temporarily interrupted the Pirates' opening barrage. Seton Hall would score the next seven points, capped by another three-pointer by Smyth to give SHU a 13-3 lead with 14:41 left in the first half.
With the Pirates holding a 16-6 advantage, Syracuse went on an 8-0 run fueled by a pair of made three-pointers by James Southerland to close to within two at 16-14 with 12:05 left before halftime.
Both teams excelled from beyond the three-point arc early. Six of Seton Hall's first eight made field goals were of the trifecta variety. Five of Syracuse's first six made field goals were also three's.
After Syracuse closed to within two, the Pirates to went on an 8-0 run, aided by two more three-pointers from Aaron Cosby (Louisville, Ky.) and Oliver, to take a 24-14 lead with 10:10 left in the first half.
With 7:06 left in the first half, Oliver connected on a turnaround jumper to give Seton Hall a 30-23 lead. Against USF, the Pirates didn't score their 30th point until there was 2:30 left in the game.
Syracuse ended the first half on a 9-2 run to send the teams into the locker room tied at 34.
Both teams shot 50.0% or better from both the field in general and three-point range in the first half. While the Pirates had a balanced offensive attack, James Southerland was a one-man show for the Orange. The senior led all first half scorers with 17 points and was 5-for-7 from three-point range.
Rakeem Christmas scored inside for Syracuse to give the Orange their first lead of the game and C.J. Fair connected on a three-pointer on their next possession to give Syracuse a 39-34 lead and prompt an early Seton Hall timeout. Fuquan Edwin (Paterson, N.J.) responded with five straight points for Seton Hall to tie the game at 39.
With the game tied at 46, Syracuse went on a 19-2 run, highlighted by Southerland's sixth three-pointer of the afternoon and seven straight points by Brandon Triche, to take a commanding 65-48 lead with just 4:37 remaining. Seton Hall wouldn't get closer than 10 points the rest of the way.
Teague finished with 13 points and five rebounds. Edwin finished with 11 points, four rebounds and three assists. Smyth, playing in his final collegiate game, scored nine points on a trio of three-pointers.
The loss cements Seton Hall's all-time BIG EAST Championship record vs. Syracuse at 2-5.
