SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Rony Seikaly scored 22 points and No. 10 Syracuse capitalized on Georgia Southern's foul problems for a 79-73 victory Friday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Orangemen, who have lost in the second round of the NCAAs the past four years, meet Western Kentucky Sunday. The Hilltoppers beat West Virginia 64-62 earlier Friday at the Carrier Dome.
Syracuse, 27-6, trailed 40-39 at the half but held a 52-51 edge when Eagles center Jeff Sanders fouled out at 12:27. Syracuse responded with an 8-0 run and Georgia Southern was never again closer than 3 points.
Sanders had four fouls by halftime but started the second half.
'Starting the second half with Sanders was a little stupid,' Eagles Coach Frank Kerns said. 'But he's our best passer. We had to take the gamble.'
Syracuse guard Greg Monroe hit a pair of 3-pointers during the decisive spurt as the Orangment took a 60-51 lead. The Eagles guards tried to make up for Sanders' absence by collapsing on the Orangemen frontline, but this freed Monroe, who finished with four 3-pointers.
Said Syracuse Coach Jim Boeheim: 'When Greg hit a couple of three-pointers, that opened things up (again) and we could go back inside.'
Georgia Southern, 20-11, winner of the Trans America Athletic Conference Tournament, was led by Brian Newton's 18 points and 16 apiece from Michael Stokes and Anthony Forrest.
For Syracuse, Sherman Douglas scored 17 points and Monroe and freshman Derrick Coleman each added 16. Coleman also grabbed 10 rebounds.
The game was played before 15,681 loudly partisan Syracuse fans. The Eagles' total home attendance this season was 17,857.
'It was exciting,' Forrest said. 'I'll never forget this moment, I'll tell my children and grandchildren.'
In the first half, Georgia Southern used its fastbreak to take leads of 8-2, 12-5 and 18-11. Douglas sparked a 10-0 Syracuse run with 6 points as the Orangemen led 27-21.
The Eagles moved ahead 36-33 when Sanders a pair of foul shots to complete a 7-0 run. Stokes' two free throws with 10 seconds left in the half provided Georgia Southern with a 40-39 edge at intermission.
'We had everything to gain and they didn't,' Forrest said. 'I think SU was afraid to lose.'
Boeheim said Georgia Southern's refusal to quit presented a constant danger.
'It was a game that could have slipped away at any time because they hung so tough,' he said.
