No. 5 Syracuse reaches 14-0 with win over Providence
SYRACUSE, N.Y. » Kris Joseph had a career-high 27 points, Scoop Jardine scored 17 of his 21 in the second half, and No. 5 Syracuse beat Providence 81-74 yesterday in the Big East opener for both teams.
Jardine had nine points to key an 11-2 run that gave Syracuse a 62-49 lead, and the Orange (14-0, 1-0) held on despite 27 points from Marshon Brooks, his eighth straight game with at least 25.
The Friars (11-3, 0-1) never got closer than four the remainder of the game.
Brandon Triche finished with 15 points and Rick Jackson had nine points, a career-high five assists, and 17 rebounds for the Orange. Jackson also registered two blocks to become the 10th player in program history to surpass 200.
No. 11 Kentucky 91, Coppin State 61
Terrence Jones scored 18 points, Brandon Knight added 17 points and eight assists and the 11th-ranked Wildcats rolled in their final tune-up before a showdown with rival Louisville on New Year’s Eve.
Host Kentucky (10-2) shot 57 percent from the field—including 74 percent in the second half—to overwhelm the Eagles (4-6).
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Doron Lamb, fresh off a school freshman-record 32-point performance in a rout of Winthrop last week, scored 17 points and DeAndre Liggins added 10 points, eight rebounds and six assists for Kentucky.
No. 12 Purdue 80, Michigan 57
JaJuan Johnson scored 22 points, E’Twaun Moore added 20 points and No. 12 Purdue opened the Big Ten season with an easy win on the road at Michigan.
The Boilermakers (12-1, 1-0 Big Ten) also got 17 points from Ryne Smith and 10 from Terone Johnson.
Michigan (10-3, 0-1) was led by Stu Douglass with 15 points, but no other Wolverine reached double figures. Michigan shot 38 percent, compared to Purdue’s 49 percent, and turned the ball over 14 times.
Wisconsin 68, No. 14 Minnesota 60
Jordan Taylor scored 22 points and Jon Leuer added 16 for the host Badgers in the Big Ten opener for both teams. Wisconsin (11-2, 1-0) is 70-6 against Big Ten opponents at the Kohl Center under coach Bo Ryan.
The Gophers (11-2, 0-1) took the lead on Trevor Mbakwe’s dunk with just under 7 minutes to play, but Wisconsin answered with two 3-pointers.
