Syracuse-Kansas: Jonny Flynn, Orange Complete Classic Comeback

The first game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Syracuse Orange since the 81-78 2003 NCAA Championship thriller couldn't have been more opposite than the high-scoring first half affair in New Orleans five-and-a-half years ago.

The game started off slowly, as both teams couldn't find the offensive touch for the first 10 minutes of the game. For much of the first half, Syracuse was slow on defense, leaving Kansas a bunch of open shots, allowing the Jayhawks to start 6-for-13 from three-point range.

Then Jonny Flynn helped lead a complete team effort in the second half, coming back from a 13-point deficit to win the CBE Classic in Kansas City 89-81 in overtime.

In great contrast to the first half of that NCAA Championship game, threes were not falling left and right from the start—nor was much of anything else finding the basket. At the second officials' timeout with 11:59 to go in the first half, Kansas held an 11-8 lead.

After Arinze Onuaku hit a pair of free throws, Kansas went on a 15-6 run that included nine straight points from Jayhawks' guard Tyshawn Taylor (17 points, 8-13 FG), and put Kansas up 26-16 with six minutes left in the first half.

Syracuse tried to keep it close with spurts, but after closing the gap to 33-30 when Arinze Onuaku made a layup with 1:37 remaining, the Orange missed their only remaining shot that half, while Kansas scored eight straight points to lead by 11 at halftime.

An 8-0 run by the Orange six minutes into the second half was keyed by a couple of steals leading to fast break dunks and layups by Jonny Flynn and Paul Harris, cutting the Kansas lead to 53-49. An Andy Rautins three-pointer with 8:31 left gave the Orange their first lead since early in the game at 57-56.

Kansas stretched the lead to six twice but missed some key free throws down the stretch, going only 11-for-20 from the line in the game. By contrast, Syracuse wasn't great, but hit 25 of 37 free throws, including 7-for-10 from Eric Devendorf (20 points, five assists, 3-7 3pt FG) and 11-for-16 from Jonny Flynn (25 points, five assists, 2-4 3Pt FG).

After Cole Aldrich missed the second of a pair of free throws with 20 seconds left, Paul Harris grabbed one of his 14 rebounds and passed to Flynn. Kansas' Cole Aldrich (15 points, 16 rebounds) came out beyond the three-point line from his center spot to assist on a double team of Flynn.

Flynn sidestepped Aldrich with a right-to-left crossover and drained a 22-foot three-pointer from the wing to tie the game at 72 with six seconds remaining.

Kansas had one more shot, but Paul Harris' defense (14 points, 14 rebounds) all the way up the floor kept Sherron Collins' (21 points, three rebounds) desperation three off line as time expired to end regulation.

The first possession in overtime resulted in Arinze Onuaku (19 points, 12 rebounds, 8-9 FG, 3-3 FT) converting a three-point play off a nice dish from Eric Devendorf to take a 75-72 lead.

After Kansas made a tip-in and two free throws to take a one-point lead, Paul Harris grabbed an offensive rebound following a missed three-pointer from Andy Rautins (3-8 3Pt FG), and put it back to give Syracuse the lead for good at 77-76.

That basket was the beginning of a 10-0 run by Syracuse that put the game out of reach. Onuaku, Rautins, Devendorf, and Harris all scored during that 2:10 stretch, giving the Orange an 85-76 lead with 0:45 to play.

Syracuse made 4-of-6 free throws in the last 32 seconds of overtime to upset Kansas in what was a neutral site game only in technicality, as many Kansas fans made the 45-minute drive from Lawrence to cheer on the 23rd-ranked Jayhawks.

Jonny Flynn was named the CBE Classic's Most Valuable Player, totaling 43 points and nine assists, shooting 55 percent (11-for-20) from the field, 50 percent (4-for-8) from three-point range, and making 77 percent of his free throws (17-for-22).

Looking at this tournament, the Orange have to be thrilled with the outcome. They went and beat two ranked teams at a neutral site—teams who happen to own the last three NCAA Championships. Syracuse was going to need a good showing at this tournament in order to boost their resume if they wanted to return to the NCAA Tournament in March after a two-year absence.

Looking at their remaining schedule, a home game against Virginia and a road game against Memphis are the only remaining big obstacles between the Orange and an undefeated record once Big East Conference play starts on Dec. 30 against Seton Hall.

The Orange return home to play the 3-1 Virginia Cavaliers on Friday at the Carrier Dome at 7PM ET.

(Photo: Charlie Riedel—Associated Press)