LISTEN: @Cuse_MBB came away with a victory in the @MauiInv, dominating @SwordsMBB 105-56 in the 7th place game. @bespector and @JoePuccio_ had the call from the 50th State. pic.twitter.com/3FSwQxIcGl
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) November 23, 2023
With 2:20 left in the second half, Syracuse forward Justin Taylor snatched an offensive rebound and muscled his way through contact to finish the putback. The basket meant SU cracked 100 points for the first time since a double overtime game against Indiana in 2021.
The offensive explosion from the Orange included seven players scoring in double figures as Syracuse (3-2, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) cruised past division two side Chaminade (1-5, 0-1 Pacific West Conference) 105-56 for its first victory at the Maui Invitational.
A standout among the double-figure bunch was forward Chris Bell, who scored a game-high 18 points, including four from beyond the ark. The stat line was a bounce back for the sophomore who missed 16 field goals against Gonzaga on Tuesday.
Another player who returned to form was Justin Taylor, who finished with 14 points after going scoreless against Tennessee and Gonzaga. The sophomore said afterward that he will have up and down games but must remain confident.
"I'm going to have days like that. I have to trust my teammates. I kept shooting and it went in," Taylor said.
Syracuse head coach Adrian Autry knew his side needed to improve on the offensive end after shooting 35% versus Gonzaga and felt his team made the necessary adjustments.
"Watching the last couple games, I thought the ball was stuck in people's hands. We made an emphasis on sharing the ball and trying to get the ball inside a little bit more," Autry said.
The presence Chaminade felt inside the paint all night was Syracuse center Naheem McLeod. The junior racked up a season-high 13 points and nine rebounds, including a nifty two-handed slam to end the first half.
Coach Autry feels the way his team incorporated McLeod into the offense is an asset the Orange needs to do more of moving forward.
“He's a big strong player and a skilled player so I think we just have to make a more conscious effort of looking inside and we will do that going forward," Autry said.
The victory against Chaminade meant Syracuse picked up seventh place in the Maui Invitational, and even though it was the first time the Cuse' did not win the tournament, Coach Autry was still impressed with the effort SU displayed.
"It's been a good week for us. We had some good competition. Our team is still growing and we just wanted to play well today and get better and I thought we did that today," Autry said.
Syracuse now takes the long journey back to central New York and gears up for Tuesday's ACC/SEC challenge against LSU (3-2, 0-0 Southeastern Conference). Game time is set for 7:00 pm, and WAER's coverage starts at 6:30 with McClurg Remodeling Countdown to Tipoff.