Junior forward Kris Joseph has a game-best 10 points for the Syracuse Orange (No. 12 in the AP poll and No. 13 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll), who earned a 31-29 lead heading into halftime against the Georgetown Hoyas in Big East Conference matchup at the Carrier Dome. Freshman forward C.J. Fair has added eight-bench points while freshman guard Dion Waiters' lone field goal beat the halftime buzzer and gave SU a two-point margin heading into the locker room.
The Hoyas (18-5, 7-4) hit three of their first four 3-point jumpers to take an early 11-5 advantage with about 15:30 to go. The early run was propelled by junior guard Jason Clark who connected on his only two 3s of the half, while senior guard Austin Freeman added a 3-point basket.
The Orange (20-4, 7-4) answered by outscoring Georgetown 13-5 in game's next seven-plus minutes and took a 18-16 lead with about seven minutes to go. SU increased it's lead to 23-18 after senior forward Rick Jackson collected a rebound and converted a lay-in, then sophomore guard Brandon Triche nailed a 3-pointer with 5:21 to go.
Georgetown did take a quick 26-25 lead with 2:11 to go, but SU responded with a small 6-3 run that was capped by Waiters' buzzer beater.
Currently, SU is 11-of-26 (42.6 percent) from the field and 3-of-9 from behind the 3-point land. Senior forward Rick Jackson has four points and game-best seven rebounds. For Georgetown, Clark and freshman guard Markel Starks each have a team-best six points. Senior guard Austin Freeman has five points for the Hoyas, who is 11-of-27 (40.7) from the field and 6-of-12 from 3-point land.