13 NCAA Basketball Tournament: Syracuse Orange 66 – California Golden Bears 60

March 23, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; California Golden Bears forward Richard Solomon (35) jumps for the opening tipoff against the Syracuse Orange during the first half of the third round of the NCAA basketball tournament at HP Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Free Throw Line is Syracuse’s Best Friend

Tonight the California Golden Bears #12 seed took on the Syracuse Orange #4 seed in San Jose, CA (East Region).  The game started out slow and was mostly controlled by Syracuse.  With 15 minutes to go in the first half Syracuse led California 6-2.  By the 10 minute mark to go in the first half the score was only 11-9  Syracuse.  By five minutes to go in the first half  C.J. Fair a forward for Syracuse was pretty hot and had 15 points and helped the Syracuse to 10 point led 25-15.

At halftime Syracuse led California by 8 with the score being  32-24.  Looking at the stats at half time they was not much difference besides in 3 point FG% . Syracuse was 57% for 4-7 and California was a cold 12% for 1-8.  All other stats was very close, California lead in FG% 41%-40% and assists 6-5.  Syracuse lead in rebounds 17-13, steals 5-3 and turnovers 7-9.  Leading scorer for Syracuse was  C.J. Fair who did not score in the last five minutes but had 15 points and 4 rebounds.  California’s leading scorer was Richard Solomon who had 9 points and 4 rebounds.  California had a huge boost when Robert Thurman came off the bench and in 8 minutes scored 6 points.

March 23, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; Syracuse Orange forward James Southerland (43) reaches for a loose ball against the California Golden Bears during the first half of the third round of the NCAA basketball tournament at HP Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The second half would be a lot like the first half and with 15 minutes to go in the game Syracuse was up by 11 with the score being 29-40.  With ten minutes to go Syracuse held a  14 point lead with the score being 31-45.  The biggest difference in the second half had been that Syracuse got into the double bonus early in the second half and scored 9 from the free throw in the first 13 minutes of the second half.  California made a run going into the last five minutes and had cut the led to 8 with the score being 49-41.  The last few minutes Syracuse made a living from the free throw line and California hit a pair of threes to get back into the game.  California was down by 7 with one minute to go and committed a charge.  Syracuse quickly scored to go back up by 9.  Then both teams put on a clinic on turnovers and fouls but Syracuse would hold on for the win.

The game was controlled by Syracuse for the most part and they ended up winning 66-60.  The Orange won by defensive pressure and a huge advantage at the free throw line.  The Golden Bears only went to the line for 12-19 for 63% and the Orange had a huge advantage as they went 26-41 for 63%   The leading scorer for Syracuse was C.J. Fair that had 18 points and 5 rebounds and James Southerland added 14 points and 9 rebounds.  The leading scorer for California was Richard Solomon that had 20 points and 13 rebounds and Tyrone Wallace added 12 points.   Syracuse made a living from the line tonight and sent California home with 20-12 season record.  The Syracuse Orange will move on to the sweet sixteen and play next weekend against the winner of the Indiana #1 Vs. Temple #9 game that will be played tomorrow at 2:45 Eastern.

Written by: Blue Brandon

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