SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Gary Forbes scored 23 points, including a
crucial 3-pointer from the top of the key with just over a minute
to play, and Massachusetts beat Syracuse 107-100 on Wednesday.
The Minutemen (5-1), playing for the first time in 11 days, made
their Carrier Dome debut a memorable one, scoring more points
against Syracuse (4-2) than any opponent since the building opened
in 1980.
Ricky Harris led UMass with 25 points, Dante Milligan had 17,
Chris Lowe had 13 points and nine assists, and Etienne Brower had
14 points. Forbes also had seven assists.
Eric Devendorf led the Orange with 23 points before fouling out
in the final minute. Arinze Onuaku, Donte Greene and Jonny Flynn
each had 20 points, and Paul Harris had 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Flynn also had 12 assists for his first career double-double and
Onuaku had 10 rebounds.
Syracuse led for most of the second half, but every time the
Orange threatened to run away with the game the Minutemen fought
back.
Flynn fed Devendorf for a fast-break dunk to give Syracuse its
biggest lead, 70-58, with 14:32 left, but the Orange has struggled
on defense all season and the struggle continued as UMass hit
14-of-31 3-pointers.
Ricky Harris hit a 3-pointer from the right corner midway
through the period to move UMass within 82-80 and a runner by
Forbes tied it at 84 with 6:51 left.
A follow by Onuaku had Syracuse up 93-89 with 3:53 to go, but
Bonner hit a 3 from the top of the key and Forbes drained two free
throws to put UMass up 94-93.
Devendorf's driving layup gave Syracuse the lead back, but Lowe
made a layup off a feed from Forbes underneath with 1:59 left to
give UMass a one-point edge.
After Onuaku missed a pair of free throws, Forbes sank a long 3
from well behind the line for a 101-95 lead with 1:11 left, then
turned around and waved his arms at the crowd.
Two free throws by Devendorf and a layup by Flynn had Syracuse
within 101-99 with 14.4 seconds left, but Ricky Harris made four
free throws and Lowe made a pair to secure the victory.
Senior guard Josh Wright, who had played just four minutes in
Syracuse's first five games, was back on the bench for the first
time in four games but did not play.