Orange Extends Winning Streak Against Texas Southern

SYRACUSE, New York – Syracuse closed out the non-conference portion of its schedule with an 80-67 victory against Texas Southern in the Carrier Dome on Sunday, Dec. 27. The Orange will enter ACC play with a 10-3 record, while Texas Southern goes to 1-10.

Grad student Michael Gbinije led a group of five Orange in double figures in scoring with a team-high 15 points. Grad student Trevor Cooney and senior DaJuan Coleman both finished with 14 points. Freshman Tyler Lydon came off the bench to contribute 13 points, while fellow freshman Malachi Richardson added 10 points. Texas Southern's Derrick Griffin led all scorers with 20 points.

Both teams started the game with a hot hand as Texas Southern hit five of its first eight shots, while Syracuse converted seven of its first 10 attempts. One of those baskets was a three-pointer by Cooney on a fast break. It was his 209th of his career, which gives him sole possession of fourth place on Syracuse's all-time three-point field goals made record list.

Gbinije's jumper at the 13:14 mark broke an 11-11 tie and started the Orange on a 6-0 scoring run that gave Syracuse a 17-11 advantage. The Tigers fought back and a three-pointer by Jerron Martin brought Texas Southern within one at 20-19 with 7:15 on the clock. Martin's second three at the 4:53 mark evened the score at 22-22.

Tyler Roberson put the Orange back on top with a layup, which sparked Syracuse on an 18-8 scoring run to end the half. Gbinije hit back-to-back three-pointers and had eight points during the stretch and he led all scorers with 13 points in the first half. Syracuse entered intermission with a 40-30 lead.

Freshman Malachi Richardson scored the first seven points of the second half to extend the Orange's advantage to 47-30. Syracuse maintained its double-digit lead and was up by 14, 70-56, with 5:50 remaining when freshman Franklin Howard converted a pair of free throws to spark the Orange on a 7-0 scoring run. The offensive outburst gave Syracuse its largest lead of the game of 21, 77-56 at the 4:19 mark.

The Tigers, however, wouldn't go away and cut the lead back to 13, but that was as close as Texas Southern could get as Syracuse recorded the 80-67 victory. The Orange now enters ACC play on a three-game winning streak.

Syracuse and Texas Southern both shot well from the field. The Orange was 29-for-62 (46.8 percent), while the Tigers were 27-for-53 (50.9 percent). Syracuse recorded 14 steals in the contest and forced 15 Texas Southern turnovers. The Orange protected the ball, committing only five turnovers in the contest.

Coleman's 14 points equaled his career-best effort, as did his six made free throws.

The Orange opens ACC play at longtime rival Pittsburgh on Wednesday, Dec. 30 at 9 p.m.

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