Hughes scores careerhigh in Syracuse win

ATLANTA(AP) >> ElijahHugheswas cooking early, Buddy Boeheimgot hot late, and Syracuse shut down the ACC’s leading scorer all the way Saturday in a 97-63 victory at Georgia Tech that snapped a three-game losing streak for the Orange.

Hughes scored 26 of his careerhigh 33 points in the first half, Boeheim added 20 of his careerhigh 26 in the second half, and Syracuse (5-4, 1-1 ACC) had absolutely no problem with Tech’s unusual 1-3-1 zone defensewhile also limiting Tech sophomore guard Michael Devoe to seven points on 2-of-12 shooting. He entered the game leading the conference with a 23.8-point scoring average.

The 34-point loss is Georgia Tech’s largest since losing 85-48 to No. 2 Virginia on Jan. 17, 1981.

Syracuse got off to a fast start when, after Tech’s Moses Wright scored the game’s first points on a stick-back, the Orange went on a 23-5 run that included made 3-point shots on four on five possessions. Hughesmade three and Boeheim another for a 23-7 lead with 13:53 left in the half. Tech never pulled closer than 14 points.

“That was pretty good. He just got in the zone,” Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim said of Hughes, a fourth-year forward. “He’s had days like that in practice. He hasn’t really had a game like that this year. I thought he was going to keep making them all.”

Hughesdidmiss some shots; he finished 10-of-15, including 6-of-11 on 3-pointers and all seven of his free throw attempts.

The Orange bullied Tech (4-3, 1-1) from start to finish, going to the free throw line for 30 shots andmaking 25. Theywon the battle of the boards 40-30, and also made 14-of-33 3-point shots — six each by Hughes and Boeheim. Tech made just 7-of-18 free throws and was consistently outhustled.