Halftime couldn't have come soon enough for the No. 4-ranked Syracuse Orange, which lead the AP polls No. 25 Cincinnati Bearcats, 35-31, entering halftime at the Carrier Dome. The Bearcats, who trailed 18-3 in the games first eight minutes, has trimmed SU's lead behind a barrage of 3-pointers.
Currently, Cincinnati is shooting 9-for-19 from 3-point land (47.4 percent). Cincy at one point was shooting just 3-for-12 but guards, freshman Sean Kilpatrick and senior Dion Dixon, caught fire in the half's last eight minutes.
Dixon finished the half with 12 points, which included shooting 4-for-6 on 3-pointers. Kilpatrick has netted seven points, including two 3-pointers.
Syracuse began the game on a 9-0 run. Junior forward Rick Jackson scored the game's first two baskets, senior guard Scoop Jardine added a 3-pointer then sophomore guard Brandon Triche finished the run with a layup.
Jardine added another 3-pointer to give SU a 15-point advantage, 18-3, at about the 12-minute mark.
Currently, Jackson has a team-high 10 points and a game-best six rebounds. Jardine and Triche each have six points.
Junior forward Kris Joseph has scored just two points but left the game with a head injury with 6:27 to go in the half. Joseph WILL NOT return and play in the second half.