Syracuse holds off Huerter, Maryland

SYRACUSE, N.Y. » Tyus Battle scored 13 of his 18 points in the second half, Oshae Brissett and Frank Howard each scored 15 and Syracuse held off Maryland 72-70 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Monday night.

Kevin Huerter, a Shenendehowa grad now a sophomore at Maryland, had 23 points, going 7-of-9 from long range. Bruno Fernando had 13 points, while Anthony Cowan had 11.

It was the first true road game of the season for Maryland (6-2), which was playing its third game in four nights and was coming off a two-point loss to St. Bonaventure on Friday night in the semifinals of the Emerald Coast Classic. Syracuse (6- 0) has won its last four against the Terps.

Battle, the Orange’s leading scorer, suffered a bruise to his lower back in a win over Toledo on Wednesday night, but he was in the lineup at tipoff and played 37 minutes.

The Terps squandered an eightpoint second-half lead in the loss to St. Bonaventure, but this game was tight throughout. Syracuse

had the biggest lead in the second half, 56- 52 with 8:59 to play, and it came down to the final seconds.

Brissett’s second 3-point play of the game gave the Orange a 63- 61 lead with 4:33 left, and when Fernando made only 1 of 2 free throws the Orange maintained their slim lead. MONMOUTH 81, UALBANY 73 » Ray Salnave scored 10 of his career-high 18 points in the final five minutes to help Monmouth pull away late in its 81-73 win over previously unbeaten Albany on Monday night and snap a three- game skid.

Zac Tillman had 15 points and seven rebounds, Micah Seaborn made all three of his 3-point shots and added 13 points and Deion Ham- mond scored 10 for Monmouth (3- 4).

After trailing by 10 earlier in the second half, Seaborn hit two free throws and then, 36 seconds later, made a 3-pointer to make it 61- all with six minutes to play. Salnave converted a 3-point play and, after Albany’s David Nichols made 1 of 2 free throws, hit a 3-pointer to give the Hawks a two-point lead. Devonte Campbell’s layup on the other end tied it, but Tillman answered with a jumper that sparked a 14- 6 run over the final threeplus minutes.

The Great Danes committed a turnover and made 1 of 3 from the field on their final four possessions, while Monmouth hit 10 of 12 foul shots down the stretch.

Joe Cremo had 19 points and nine rebounds, and Travis Charles scored 18 with nine more boards, for Albany (6-1).