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Joseph, Syracuse slip past Iona

Dec 19, 2010 - 4:28 AM Syracuse, NY (Sports Network) - Kris Joseph scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds to push fifth-ranked Syracuse past Iona, 83-77, at the Carrier Dome.

Brandon Triche added 14 points and matched a career high with seven assists while Dion Waiters supplied 12 points off the bench for the Orange (11-0), who have won their first 11 games for the 11th time under head coach Jim Boeheim.

Mike Glover scored a game-best 25 points and pulled down a game-high 16 boards while Scott Machado contributed 11 points and 13 assists for the Gaels (7-4), who had a seven-game win string snapped.

Syracuse has won the four all-time meetings, though Kyle Smyth did his best to try to turn the tables by pouring in 22 points. He did, however, make just five of his 16 attempts from beyond the arc.

Waiters' fast break dunk made it 31-20 with 5 1/2 minutes to go in first half, but Iona got back in the game. Jermel Jenkins hit a three-pointer to cap an 11-2 run that pulled the visitors within 33-31 with two minutes remaining before the break.

Joseph's layup and two Triche free throws gave the Orange a 37-31 advantage at the intermission.

Trailing 46-35 early in the second half, the Gaels put together a 9-2 burst to get within four. However, the Orange ran off 10 of the next 12 points to forge a 58-46 margin with 12 1/2 minutes to play.

Joseph's dunk gave the hosts a seemingly comfortable 76-61 advantage, Syracuse's biggest of the night, with 4:41 remaining.

But Iona did not go quietly, as Machado and Smyth drained back-to-back treys to slice the Gaels' deficit to 77-70. A Glover foul shot with 1:37 left made it a six-point game.

Two Scoop Jardine free throws with 54 ticks left pushed the Orange lead to 79-71 before Glover and Machado combined to hit three foul shots, getting Iona within five with 25 seconds to go.

But Waiters and Jardine each hit a pair of foul shots to sew up the win.

"This is a really good Iona team," Boeheim said. "They're going to be hard to beat in their league. I really liked their team and how they played against us. We played very, very well on the offensive end to get control of the game, but with a three-point shooting team, they're never out of it. They made some really good plays coming down the stretch and gave themselves a chance."

Game Notes

The teams last met in the first round of the 1998 NCAA Tournament. Syracuse also defeated Iona in 1978 and 1983...Joseph made 8-of-11 from the floor and added four assists...Rick Jackson chipped in with eight points and eight boards in the victory...Syracuse made 32-of-54 for a season-best 59.3 percent shooting from the floor...Glover connected on 9-of-11 from the field and 7- of-12 at the line...Smyth finished 7-of-18 while Jenkins made 2-of-10, all from three-point territory...Iona made 11-of-37 attempts from beyond the arc...The Gaels had 24 assists on 26 made buckets.