There will be no five-game losing streak. There will be no talk of scandals. Tomorrow, the only thing worth talking about will be the fact that Syracuse basketball won a game and they did so when they needed to most. For more than one reason, Wednesday's 66-58 win over UConn helped change the conversation and get a program back on track.
Brandon Triche scored 16 points while Rick Jackson posted a double-double, as 17th-ranked Syracuse snapped a four-game losing streak with a 66-58 victory over No. 6 Connecticut.
Jackson had 13 points and 13 rebounds for the Orange (19-4, 6-4 Big East), who used two big free throws from Scoop Jardine with 41.7 seconds left to withstand a final-minute UConn rally.
Triche put up the points but just as much credit should go to Baye Moussa Keita for his "I should be starting" performance that included six steals and eleven rebounds as well as Dion Waiters who emerged from the doghouse to put up nine points in eighteen minutes of work.
A huge part of the Orange's success? Kemba Walker's lack thereof. The National Player of the Year candidate was held to eight points on three-of-fourteen shooting.
Once again the Orange got off to a shaky start but were able to rally back and take a halftime lead for the first time in a while. And the Orange seemed to have offensive issues late in the game, but it was their defense that rose to the challenge, holding the Huskies to six points in the final 4:51.
SU also got help from an unlikely place...the free throw line. The Orange went 6-of-7 down the stretch. That was nice.
Most-importantly, Orange also re-established their stronghold on the territory formerly known as Connecticut as part of the Syracuse City-State.
Rest easy for at least one night, Cuse Nation. We won a basketball game.