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Syracuse fends off Michigan

Nov 27, 2010 - 4:00 AM Atlantic City, NJ (Sports Network) - Kris Joseph scored 22 points to help ninth-ranked Syracuse hold off Michigan in a 53-50 victory at the Legends Classic.

Scoop Jardine added 11 points despite shooting just 2-of-10 from the field for the Orange (5-0), which advanced to face Georgia Tech in Saturday's title game. Rick Jackson provided 10 points and 12 rebounds in the narrow victory.

Jordan Morgan and Stu Douglass scored 11 points apiece for Michigan (3-1), which posted victories over USC-Upstate, Bowling Green and Gardner-Webb to begin its season.

Morgan's layup to begin the second half provided the Wolverines a 33-29 edge, but Syracuse answered with a 9-0 run to take the lead.

Joseph had five of the points, including a three-pointer, and Jackson's layup with 17 minutes left gave the Orange a 38-33 advantage.

Tim Hardaway, Jr. and Darius Morris made consecutive shots for Michigan to tie the game at 38-38, though the Wolverines scored only two points over the next seven minutes.

Syracuse added only six points to its total during the stretch, and Jackson's layup with 10:40 left made it 44-40.

Hardaway's dunk with eight minutes left and Douglass' three with just under six minutes to play gave Michigan a one-point lead, as the Orange went more than six minutes without scoring.

Jardine, though, ended the drought with a three for a 47-45 lead with 4 1/2 minutes to go, and he added a free throw after a jumper from Joseph for a five-point advantage two minutes later.

Michigan didn't get within one possession again until there were 22 seconds left, when a Hardaway jumper made it a 51-48 game. Jardine was fouled and sank both free throws a few seconds later to seal the outcome.

The Wolverines held the largest lead of the first half at 31-25 following a Hardaway free throw with 1:18 left, but Syracuse closed with the final four points to cut its deficit to two at the break.

Game Notes

Hardaway finished with eight points on 3-of-12 shooting...Michigan still leads the all-time series, 7-6...The Wolverines attempted only four free throws in the game and made two. Syracuse went 8-for-15 from the line.