No. 4 Syracuse comes out strong in 2nd half to beat Providence 99-85, clinch double-bye

2nd half is strong for No. 4 Syracuse vs. Friars

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rick Jackson scored a career-high 28 points, 17 in the second half, and No. 4 Syracuse recovered from an eight-point deficit to beat feisty Providence 99-85 on Tuesday night.

Andy Rautins scored a season-high 28 points, Jackson added nine rebounds and Arinze Onuaku had 12 points and nine boards for the Orange (26-2, 13-2), who clinched a double-bye into the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament.

After Jamine Peterson hit a 3-pointer to open the second half and give the Friars a 55-47 lead, Syracuse scored the next 14 points. Marshon Brooks made a basket for Providence (12-15, 4-11) with 13:29 left to cut the deficit to four points, but the Orange scored the next 12 to put it away.

Brooks and Peterson both scored 23 for Providence, which has lost seven straight since beating then-No. 19 Connecticut on Jan. 27.

Syracuse lost at home to Louisville on Feb. 14, and recovered by winning at then-No. 10 Georgetown on Thursday. Tuesday night’s victory, coupled with Louisville’s 70-60 loss to the Hoyas, gave the Orange the double-bye.

Syracuse led by 13 points after just 6 minutes and it was 34-25 when Providence scored 13 of the next 14 points to take the lead. Rautins and McKenzie traded 3-pointers, and after a dunk by Joseph, the Friars scored six straight points to take a 47-40 lead with 3:41 left in the half.

They went up eight points before Rautins hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 52-47 at halftime.

Providence shot 59 percent in the first half, including 10 of 19 from 3-point range. It was just the second time this season Syracuse had trailed at the half, and its biggest halftime deficit of the season.

But after Peterson’s basket, it was all Syracuse.

Jackson scored on a putback to give the Orange the lead for good, 57-55 with 15:11 left. Then Brandon Triche followed his steal with a fast-break layup and Wes Johnson did the same on the next possession to give Syracuse a 61-55 lead, complete the 14-0 run and force Providence to use a timeout.

Brooks made a basket after the break, but before the Friars would score again Syracuse led 73-57.

Rautins, who set his season high with 26 points in the 75-71 win over Georgetown, missed his career high by one point. He was 8 of 12 from 3-point range, making all five attempts in the second half.