Maui, HI - The Syracuse Orange (7-0) defeated the Baylor Bears (6-1) 74-67 in the championship game of the EA Sports Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center Wednesday night. Senior C.J. Fair was named the Tournament Most Valuable Player. In the title game versus #18 Baylor, Fair had 24 points and three steals.
Over three games in three days, Fair had 54 points for the eighth-ranked Orange. SU was also lead by freshman point guard Tyler Ennis, who had 11 points and a career-high nine assists in the game against Balyor. The 'Cuse also had two other players in double figures. Trevor Cooney finished with 11 points, and Jerami Grant tied a career-high with 19 points. Grant also had 19 points Tuesday versus California.
"I think this was a great tournament for us, particularly for our young guards," Coach Jim Boeheim said. "I think this was very helpful for them, and figuring out how to make plays three nights in a row."
The Tournament win improves Syracuse's EA Sports Maui Invitational record to 9-0 in the Championship Round. The orange also won the Maui Invitational in 1990 and 1998.
After the game Coach Boeheim was peppered about whether or not he would return to Hawai'i for the Tournament. "I've retired from Maui," Coach said. "The next time I come to Maui, I'll have my golf clubs."
Along with C.J. Fair as the MVP, sophomore Jerami Grant was named to the Maui Invitational All-Tournament team. Grant averaged 16.7 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per contest.
Next up, the Orange takes on Indiana in the Carrier Dome back in snowy Syracuse on Tuesday, December 3rd. The ACC/Big Ten challenge is a rematch of the Orange and Hoosiers match-up from the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament in the spring. You can tune in at 6:45 PM on Tuesday for Countdown to Tip-Off. The game follows at 7:15 PM on WAER.