March 10, 2006
NEW YORK (AP) - Gerry McNamara came through again in the clutch. In what's becoming a familiar sight at the Big East tournament, the Syracuse star guard hit another big 3-pointer to get the Orange within one with 52 seconds left, assisted on Eric Devendorf's go-ahead basket and caused a turnover with 1.5 seconds left in a 58-57 victory over Georgetown in the semifinals Friday night. With Georgetown leading 57-53, McNamara hit his fifth 3-pointer of the game and set off chants of "Gerry! Gerry!" from the crowd at Madison Square Garden. On the Hoyas' next possession, Demetris Nichols deflected Ashanti Cook's crosscourt pass, McNamara grabbed the ball and dished it off to Devendorf, who made a layup to give Syracuse its first lead of the game with 9 seconds left. On Georgetown's next possession, McNamara reached in and caused Cook to bobble the ball and get called for traveling, giving the ball back to Syracuse (22-11) and sealing the victory. McNamara, who finished with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, was mobbed in front of Syracuse's bench by his teammates and was serenaded again by a long chant of "Gerry! Gerry!" Former Syracuse greats Derrick Coleman, Pearl Washington and Lawrence Moten also joined in on the celebration, coming from their baseline seats and embracing McNamara. The ninth-seeded Orange will play the winner of the late game between No. 2 Villanova and No. 15 Pittsburgh. Syracuse became the fourth team to win three games and advance to the Big East championship. No team has won four to win the tournament. West Virginia won three to reach the final last year before losing to Syracuse. Pittsburgh (2001) and Connecticut (2000) were the others to win three games and get to the final. Roy Hibbert led fifth-seeded Georgetown (21-9) with 13 points and eight rebounds. The Hoyas' downfall came at the foul line, where they missed nine of 17 - including five of six in the last 4:10.
After Brandon Bowman's dunk gave Georgetown a 40-28 lead at 14:15, the Orange went on an 18-7 run - including three 3-pointers by McNamara - that was capped by Darryl Watkins' layup off Devendorf's miss to make it 47-46 with 8:14 left. Hibbert followed with a jumper to give Georgetown a three-point lead, but backup Matt Gorman - McNamara's best friend and roommate - drilled a 3-pointer with 7:18 left to tie it. The Hoyas maintained the lead, which got up to as much as four on Hibbert's free throw with 2:15 that made it 57-53. But then it was time for McNamara to shine again. Big shots by McNamara helped Syracuse, the defending Big East tournament champions, win its first two games of the tournament. McNamara's 3 with a half-second left beat Cincinnati 74-73 in the opening round Wednesday. In the next game against Connecticut, McNamara hit a 3 with 5.5 seconds left to send it to overtime, where the Orange won 86-84. The teams struggled offensively to start the game, but Georgetown ended the half on a 9-2 run to take a 36-21 into the break. The Hoyas shot 59.1 percent in the first half, going 13-for-22. McNamara was given a long rest by coach Jim Boeheim just 2:11 into a scoreless game. The star guard has been bothered by a groin injury for several weeks, and had several breaks in the previous game against Connecticut. By the time McNamara got back in at tSyracuse became the fourth team to win three games and advance to the Big East championship.he 11:53 mark, the Orange trailed 12-4. It was the 12th time the schools have met in the tournament, with both teams winning six times. Five of the meetings have come in championship games, with the Hoyas winning four. |  |
| |||
No comments:
Post a Comment