NCAAB Game Recap - Texas Southern at Syracuse

Sat Nov 18, 2017 7:00 PM EST

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) Tyus Battle scored 21 points, Geno Thorpe added 13 and Syracuse went on a 29-6 halftime-spanning run to overpower Texas Southern 80-67 on Saturday night.

Frank Howard had 12 points and eight assists, Bourama Sidibe and Marek Dolezaj had career highs with 11 and 10 points, respectively, for Syracuse (3-0). Oshae Brissett, who made just 2 of 12 from the field, had 10 rebounds for the Orange.

Donte Clark led the Tigers (0-4) with 20 points. Robert Lewis scored 13, Trayvon Reed had 12 points, Kevin Scott added 11 and Derrick Bruce 10.

Lewis tied the game at 24-all on a floater, but the Orange outscored the Tigers 14-6 to close the half with a 38-30 lead, then scored the first 15 second-half points and led by double figures thereon. Battle, who had 23 second-half points against Cornell in the season opener, had 16 after the break on Saturday.

The Tigers took an early 7-2 lead as Syracuse missed its first seven shots, but Battle hit a 3 and then made two free throws before a layup by Sidibe gave the Orange their first lead about 4 1/2 minutes in.

Battle picked up two fouls and left the game with about 10 minutes to go in the first half but, with the Tigers leading 20-18, Thorpe scored eight of Syracuse's next 11 points - on three 3-pointers and a floater - to give the Orange a 30-24 lead. Thorpe was 5 of 6 from the field, including 3 of 4 from beyond the arc, while scoring 13 first-half points.

BIG PICTURE:

Texas Southern: The Tigers gave Syracuse a game for much of the first half but Syracuse's superior athletic ability took over. Things get even more difficult with a game against Kansas coming up. Coach Mike Davis will have to do his best to motivate the Tigers.

Syracuse: Geno Thorpe gave Syracuse a big boost in his first solid game for the Orange. His offense gives the Orange another dimension.

UP NEXT:

The Tigers jump from the frying pan and into the fire as they head to Kansas Tuesday to face the No. 5 Jayhawks. It will be Texas Southern's fifth consecutive road game-with seven more to go until the team's first home game Jan. 1.

Syracuse has a strong test Monday at the Carrier Dome against Oakland. It would have been an even bigger challenge, however, Golden Grizzlies forward Jalen Hayes will be serving the last of a four-game suspension. He averaged 15.9 points and 8.0 rebounds a game last season.