Using a 13-0 run to open the game the No. 1-ranked Syracuse Orange has taken a 35-26 halftime lead over the Pittsburgh Panthers in a Big East Conference men's basketball game at the Carrier Dome. The Orange (19-0, 6-0 Big East) are searching for a school record 20th consecutive victory and help head coach Jim Boeheim earn his 876th career victory that would place him in fourth-place tie all-time for Division I with former Kentucky Wildcats head coach Adolph Rupp.
Senior forward Kris Joseph tallied six of his team-best 9 points during the SU's early-game run, which also featured Pitt (11-7, 0-5) missing its first six shots, including three 3-pointers.
However, Pitt answered SU's early-game run with a 13-4 spurt, including five points from sophomore forward Lamar Patterson, that trimmed the margin to just 19-15 with 7:00 to go in the half.
Pitt trailed 26-21 with 3:55 to go, but the Orange used a 7-0 run near the end of the half to take a nine-point lead heading into the locker room.
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Sophomore guard Brandon Triche has tallied six points for SU, while senior point guard Scoop Jardine finished the half with just three point but six assists. Sophomore forward C.J. Fair added five points off the bench, while sophomore center Fab Melo collected six points and five rebounds.
Meanwhile, Pitt is paced by senior guard Ashton Gibbs who tallied a team-best seven points, while sophomore forward J.J. Moore has chipped in with five points of the bench.
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