SYRACUSE, N.Y. (12/9/06) – A second half explosion by Demetris Nichols powered nationally-ranked Syracuse to a 79-52 win over Colgate Saturday night at the Carrier Dome.

 

Nichols tied his career-high with 28 points, including 24 in the second half.  He made 6-of-8 from 3-point range in the second half, including five straight at one point.  Also in double figures for Syracuse were Andy Rautins with 13 points and Terrance Roberts with 12.

 

Kyle Chones (Cleveland, OH) was the only Colgate player in double figures with a career-high 18 points.  Alex Woodhouse (Alexandria, VA) added nine points and Daniel Waddy (Tucson, AZ) tallied six.

 

The Orange edged the Raiders in rebounding 38-37.  Tim Pounds (Dudley, NC) led Colgate with seven boards, while Kyle Chones had five.

 

Colgate had a 6-4 lead on the Orange when Waddy scored four straight points, but the Syracuse put together a 13-4 run for a seven-point lead 17-10 with 11:42 remaining in the first half.

 

Syracuse extended its lead to nine points twice before Colgate was able to come back to within four on five straight points by Kyle Chones.  Syracuse led at halftime, 35-30.

 

The second half was all Nichols, who scored 24 of Syracuse’s first 34 points, as the Orange pulled away to lead by as many as 30 points.  Syracuse opened the second half with eight straight points.