No. 4 Syracuse Defeats Siena, 78-56

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Gerry McNamara scored 29 points and Hakim Warrick grabbed 15 rebounds to lead No. 4 Syracuse past Siena 78-56 on Saturday.<br> <br> Syracuse (5-0) won its 29th straight against in-state opponents and sent Siena (0-5) to the worst start in school history. This was the Orange&#39;s first game in Pepsi Arena since they beat Auburn and Oklahoma to earn a Final Four berth on the way to winning the 2003 national championship.<br> <br> Warrick and Josh Pace each scored 13 points for Syracuse, which held Siena to 32 percent shooting and outrebounded the Saints 54-29.<br> <br> The game was a homecoming of sorts for Syracuse senior center Craig Forth, who starred in high school in nearby East Greenbush. Forth, whose father bought tickets for a whole section, finished with seven points and eight rebounds. <br> <br> Michael Haddix led Siena with 15 points and five rebounds. Tay Fisher had 12 points and Jack McClinton 10.<br> <br> Syracuse asserted itself quickly, running to an 18-2 lead in the first five minutes. McNamara, the Orange&#39;s best outside threat, paced the early surge with a layup and his first career dunk after a steal and courtlong dash. He then completed a four-point play after hitting his 200th career 3-pointer and finished 6-for-14 from long range.<br> <br> The Saints, who had 12 steals, finally regrouped and drew to 23-14 on a 3-pointer by Fisher. But every time Siena seemed on the verge of making it a game, McNamara struck back.<br> <br> Fisher&#39;s third 3-pointer of the first half and a free throw by Haddix narrowed the Syracuse lead to 31-20 with 7:33 left in the half. <br> <br> After Warrick made a one-handed slam, corralled a miss and tossed it outside to McNamara. He drained a 3 to boost the lead back to 16. A jumper in the lane by Pace at 2:41 gave the Orange a 44-24 lead, their biggest of the half.<br> <br> McClinton hit two baskets and the Saints trailed 46-31 at the break, but they never were closer than 12 in the second half. McNamara hit a long 3 and Forth followed with a tip to finish the game.

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