The only Big East game on Monday was between the No. 3/4 Syracuse Orange and the Cincinnati Bearcats. Syracuse won 60-53 on the road at the Fifth Third Arena. The win was the 877th of head coach Jim Boeheim's career, moving him ahead of Adolph Rupp for 4th all-time.
Syracuse bounced back from their first loss of the year to beat Cincinnati but had to overcome a slow start in the first half. The Bearcats led 15-6 with 15:36 left to play in the first half. Syracuse battled the rest of the half and took their first lead shortly before halftime. The Bearcats held their own in the second half until the Orange broke away with a 12-2 run after the halfway mark of the half.
Despite missing Fabricio Melo in the middle for the second game, Syracuse was able to keep the rebounding battle even with Cincinnati. The Orange had a 15-9 advantage at the free throw line but only outscored the Bearcats by two points at the charity stripe as both teams shot horribly from the line. Syracuse started the game 0-8 from behind the arc but hit three of their final four three-point attempts. Cincinnati hit eight three-pointers but was only 3-14 from behind the arc in the second half.
Kris Joseph led the Orange with 17 points. Scoop Jardine and Brandon Triche also scored in double figures for Syracuse. Yancy Gates had a double-double for the Bearcats with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Cashmere Wright led Cincy in scoring with 17 points.
For more postgame Syracuse coverage, visit Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician or the SB Nation New York storystream. For more postgame Cincinnati coverage, visit Down The Drive.
The only Big East game tonight is South Florida at No. 18 Marquette (8 p.m., TV: ESPN3).