Missouri Has No Answers for Syracuse : Tigers Slow Thompson, So Douglas Paces Orangemen

MINNEAPOLIS — Rich Daly, Missouri’s interim basketball coach, said the the key to beating Syracuse was containing forward Stephen Thompson.

The Tigers did a good job on Thompson, but they were unable to contain Syracuse guard Sherman Douglas, who scored 27 points as the Orangemen defeated Missouri, 83-80, in a National Collegiate Athletic Assn. Midwest Regional semifinal game Friday night before 33,560 fans at the Metrodome.

“We just got beat by a very good ball club,” Daly said. “We played very well in the first half, but we didn’t play well in the second half.”

Syracuse (30-7) plays Illinois (30-4) in the Regional final Sunday. Illinois defeated Louisville, 83-69, in the other semifinal game.

Douglas scored 20 points in the second half as Syracuse came from behind to win. One of the nation’s best point guards, Douglas hit eight of 12 shots and passed off for seven assists.

Douglas sealed the win by making four free throws in the final 32 seconds.

Why did Missouri keep fouling Douglas?

“(Syracuse Coach) Jim Boeheim didn’t fall off a turnip truck,” Daly said. “He knew what he was doing when he sent Douglas up there.”

Missouri, which led, 42-40, at halftime, was ahead, 47-42, before Syracuse scored 16 straight points to take a 58-47 lead.

“We knew that Syracuse was a spurty ballclub,” Missouri guard Byron Irvin said. “We just didn’t play good defense and we couldn’t make a shot.”

Said Boeheim: “I think Sherman took over for us during the spurt. He played great defense.”

Syracuse also got a strong game from forward Billy Owens, who scored 25 points, hitting 10 of 14 shots.

Syracuse forward Derrick Coleman, hindered by early foul trouble, had 14 points.

“We were fortunate to be in the game at halftime because Coleman was in foul trouble,” Boeheim said.

Thompson, who had 11 points, also played a key role for Syracuse.

With the Orangemen leading, 68-64, Thompson scored six straight points, making a pair of free throws and adding a layup and a dunk.

It was the second time this season that Thompson had helped Syracuse defeat Missouri. He scored 23 points as the Orangemen beat the Tigers in the final of the Big Apple NIT in New York.

But the Tigers didn’t fold Friday night.

Irvin, who had 21 points, and center Doug Smith, who scored 16, brought Missouri back.

Smith cut the score to 81-78 on a dunk with 24 seconds remaining.

Douglas then made two free throws after being fouled by Anthony Peeler with 17 seconds left to give Syracuse an 83-78 lead.

Irvin made a shot at the buzzer for the final margin.

Syracuse is one game short of reaching the Final Four for the second time three years.