Justin Black scored 14 points, including 4-for-4 from 3-point territory against Syracuse.
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – No. 5 Syracuse (12-0) collected its second highest output of the season en route to a convincing, 97-55 victory against Morgan State (4-5), on Monday at the Carrier Dome.
James Southerland scored a career-high 18 points off the bench to help lead the Orange to their 12th straight victory of the season.
The 42-point loss is the largest margin of defeat during Coach
Todd Bozeman's 5 years at the helm of the program.
Syracuse put on a very efficient performance. The Bears trailed 19-14 midway through the first half before the Orange started getting out on the fastbreak and knocking down shot after shot. They used a 14-2 run and held the Bears scoreless during a 4 minutes stretch to help build a 34-19 advantage. By halftime, the Bears trailed 44-29.
Syracuse shot 53 percent from the field (39-73), including 12-of-25 from 3-point territory (48 percent), while limiting Morgan State to 20-of-53 shooting (.377). Syracuse also had 34 assists -- four off the school record.
The Bears came alive in the opening moments of the second half and a basket by
Kevin Thompson helped trim the Orange advantage to 47-36 with 13:54 remaining. The Orange answered with a 9-2 run behind the play of Southerland and Fab Melo extending the lead to 59-43.
Southerland was unconscious from long-range where he drained four three-pointers and scored 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting.
Rick Jackson joined Southerland as the only other 'Cuse player in double-figures with 18 points and nine rebounds. Melo and Scoop Jardine finished with nine apiece.
"They're really good, they're really long, they're really big, and they're unselfish," Morgan State coach
Todd Bozeman said. "Thirty-four assists? You just don't get 34 assists, and Southerland was 5-of-22 coming in, and he shoots the lights out. They're good."
All 17 Syracuse players saw action for the first time this season. The Orange received 49 points off the bench, compared to the Bears 16 points.
In addition to the 48-15 advantage in bench points, Syracuse scored 50 points inside the paint, and held a commanding 47-28 advantage on the boards.
Kevin Thompson led Morgan State with 15 points and a game-high 12 rebounds with three blocked shots.
Justin Black had 14 points and was a perfect 4-for-4 from 3-point territory.
DeWayne Jackson chipped in nine points and
Aric Brooks finished with eight points and a game-high eight assists.
The Bears will have seven days to prepare for their road matchup against Louisville on Saturday, December 27 at Freedom Hall. The No. 22 Cardinals held on for a 90-81 win against the Bears in last year's matchup (Nov. 22, 2009).
