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BOX SCORE
NEW YORK (AP) – Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim wanted to make his
answer clear when asked about the key to the
Orangemen's 93-91 victory over St. John's in double overtime
Sunday.
|  | | DeShaun Williams and Syracuse win, but have to settle for the third seed in the West Division of the Big East tournament. |
"Allen Griffin, Allen Griffin, Allen Griffin,"' Boeheim said
before pausing for a second. "Allen Griffin."
The senior point guard scored 17 of his career-high 31 points in
the two overtimes and Syracuse used an impressive performance at
the free-throw line to end St. John's 15-game winning streak over
Big East opponents at Madison Square Garden.
"He wouldn't let us lose," Boeheim said.
Griffin, coming off the first triple-double of his career in
Tuesday's win over Pittsburgh, scored all eight points for the
Orangemen (No. 12 ESPN/USA Today, No. 19 AP) in the first overtime. His nine points in
the second overtime came on foul shots as Syracuse (22-7, 10-6) went 20-for-22
from the line in the two extra sessions.
"Overtime is all about heart and determination, the will to
win," said Griffin, a native of New York who said he was so
excited about playing in Madison Square Garden again that he didn't
fall asleep until 6 a.m. "This was a great game to carry to the
Big East tournament. This gives us some good momentum."
The Orangemen had to wait until Sunday's Georgetown at Notre
Dame game ended to find out when they would start playing in this
week's tournament at Madison Square Garden. Georgetown won 79-72
and also finished 10-7 in the league, but because of the
tiebreaker, the Hoyas got the No. 2 seed in the West Division and
the first-round bye that goes with it.
Syracuse is the third seed and will play Connecticut in
Wednesday's opening round.
"You would have liked the day off but it's been that kind of
year in the league," Boeheim said.
Freshman Willie Shaw had 25 points to lead the Red Storm (14-14,
8-8), who have lost three straight, five of six and eight of 11.
They will be the third seed from the East Division and play Seton
Hall Wednesday.
"I don't think they are going to go into Wednesday's game
thinking about anything other than Wednesday's game," St. John's
coach Mike Jarvis said. "To me, this is just another example of
the fact that they can beat anybody in this league."
Syracuse used an 8-0 run to take a 65-54 lead with 5:29 left in
regulation. Omar Cook, who finished with 22 points and nine
assists, then hit a 3-pointer to start a 10-2 run that got the Red
Storm within 67-64 with 1:51 left.
Shaw, who had not scored more than 20 points in a game since
Jan. 6, converted a four-point play to tie the game 68-68 with 38
seconds left. He took a 3-pointer right in front of the St. John's
bench and was fouled by Preston Shumpert.
Cook had a chance to give St. John's the win in regulation, but
his driving jumper from about 12 feet bounced off the rim at the
buzzer.
St. John's led for almost all of the first overtime, but Griffin
made one of two free throws with 31 seconds left to tie it 76-76.
Cook turned the ball over in the corner with 2.1 seconds left and
the Orangemen were unable to convert a final play.
Syracuse took the lead for good 17 seconds into the second
overtime when Griffin made two free throws. The Orangemen made 13
of 14 from the line the rest of the way to hold off the Red Storm,
who trailed 92-86 with 26 seconds left.
"This was a game we had control of but then we could have lost
very easily in the first overtime or the second," Boeheim said.
"We were tired, but it was a great win and we're happy with it."
Griffin finished 18-for-22 from the line and Syracuse was
39-for-48 overall. St. John's, which entered the game shooting 64
percent from the line, finished 23-for-45 for the game, including
0-for-4 in the first overtime.
"Who knows, maybe we'll find the free-throw line between now
and Wednesday and keep the season alive," Jarvis said. "I sure
hope so, because I think this team really deserves that."
Shumpert and Damone Brown had 20 points each for Syracuse.
Anthony Glover added 18 points for St. John's and Kyle Cuffe had
15.
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ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard
Syracuse Clubhouse
St Johns Clubhouse
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