The number one applied to Syracuse’s seed entering the Big East Tournament. Now, it applies to how many games the top-seeded Orange lasted inside Madison Square Garden.

            No. 8 Georgetown shocked No. 1 Syracuse, 91-84, in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament Thursday afternoon at MSG. Syracuse became the first No. 1 seed to lose in the tournament since the Orange upset No. 1 Connecticut in 2006. Syracuse is now 0-6 in its tries to win the tournament as the No. 1 seed, and is 2-1 on the season against Georgetown.

            Perhaps more disturbing for Syracuse fans, senior center Arinze Onuaku was helped off the court after landing awkwardly while fouling Georgetown center Greg Monroe with 5:07 left in the game. The injury was diagnosed as a right knee straing and Onuaku was on crutches after the game.

            After Georgetown cut Syracuse’s lead to 45-44 to open the second half, Syracuse went on a 12-4 run to take a 57-48 lead. The Hoyas stayed calm, though, going on a 22-4 run to make it 70-61 with 7:20 left in the game.

            Syracuse responded with an 11-4 run to cut the lead to 74-72, but Rick Jackson fouled Monroe while he scored on a lay-up and Monroe hit the free throw to make it 77-72. Georgetown bolstered the lead to 85-76, but Syracuse caused two turnovers and scored on a lay-up and a 3 to slice the lead to four with 51.5 seconds left. Georgetown closed the game on a 6-3 run to score the upset.

            Syracuse took a 40-37 lead into the half by putting up blistering shooting numbers. Syracuse shot 16-of-27 from the field (59.3 percent) and 6-of-11 from 3.

            Chris Wright led all scorers with 27 points, while Monroe had 15 points and 10 rebounds. Wes Johnson scored 24 for the Orange, while Kris Joseph and Scoop Jardine combined for 37 points off the benh.            

Published on March 10, 2010 at 12:00 pm