Nov 30, 2003

Box Score

By JOHN KEKIS
AP Sports Writer

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - Hakim Warrick scored a career-high 30 points, helping defending national champion Syracuse narrowly avoid an 0-2 start by beating Rhode Island 69-65 Sunday.

The No. 7 Orangemen, who lost their opener to Charlotte on Wednesday night, shot just 39.2 percent and were outrebounded 55-41. But Rhode Island made just one of 22 3-pointers.

Syracuse hasn't lost the first two games of a season since the 1968-69 team started 0-5.

The Rams (3-2) just could not hit an outside shot against Syracuse's zone, finishing with a 32.9 shooting percent.

Warrick made 18 foul shots to tie the school record set two years ago by Allen Griffin but was just 6-of-15 from the floor.

Guard Gerry McNamara, who scored a career-high 34 points and hit eight 3-pointers against Charlotte, was 1-for-9 from the field Sunday. McNamara missed all six of his 3-point attempts and finished with seven points. Billy Edelin had 16.

Dustin Hellenga led Rhode Island with 16 points, and Terrence Mack had 10. Dawan Robinson, who entered the game averaging 15.5 points, was 1-for-15 shooting and finished with six points.

Syracuse trailed by 11 points in the first half and fell behind 45-41 with 12 1/2 minutes left in the game, when Hellenga stole the ball from McNamara and converted a three-point play.

Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim then kept signaling for Warrick to get the ball in the lane, and he took over the game. Warrick scored 11 points and handed out two assists to spark Syracuse's 19-5 run.

A layup by Edelin off a feed from Warrick gave Syracuse a 60-50 lead with 3:41 left.

A 3-pointer by Hellenga with 1 1/2 minutes left cut the lead to 65-59, but McNamara and Edelin combined to hit four free throws in the final 26 seconds.