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Syracuse hopes to avoid letdown vs. lowly Rutgers

Mar 3, 2009 - 2:35 PM Rutgers (10-19) at No. 25 Syracuse (21-8), 9:00 p.m. EST

SYRACUSE, New York (Ticker) -- Syracuse will look to avoid a damaging upset Tuesday when it hosts lowly Rutgers.

The 25th-ranked Orange (21-8, 9-7 Big East) have won two straight games following a 2-6 stretch that brought their NCAA Tournament chances into question.

But after a rout at St. John's, all five starters scored in double figures during Sunday's 87-63 triumph over bubble-team Cincinnati.

Jonny Flynn led the way with 17 points and Paul Harris added 16 as Syracuse jumped out to a 23-point halftime lead en route to the easy win.

The Orange are looking to maintain a spot in the top eight of the Big East Conference standings and a first-round bye in the league tournament. An upset loss here would put that at risk with a meeting at No. 15 Marquette looming Saturday.

Rutgers (10-19, 1-15) is in the midst of an abysmal Big East season, dropping seven straight games and 16 of 17 overall after a 73-66 setback against Providence.

Gregory Echenique had 14 points and set season highs with 16 rebounds and seven blocks while Jaron Griffin added 12 points off the bench.

Leading scorer Mike Rosario scored 10 points, seven below his season average, on just 4-of-17 shooting while not making a 3-pointer for just the second time this year.