Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse had lost its last two season openers. The Orange weren't about to make it three in a row.
Led by Hakim Warrick and Gerry McNamara, No. 6 Syracuse scored the first 24 points and cruised to a 104-54 victory over Northern Colorado on Thursday night in the first round of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.
Syracuse (1-0) will play Princeton (1-0) in the second round Friday night. The Tigers beat Bucknell, 61-48, in the Carrier Dome earlier Thursday.
"It's good to finally start off on the right track," said Warrick, a preseason All-America who had 19 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and four blocks. "Our defensive intensity got our offense going. We got a lot of easy shots."
Northern Colorado, in only its second season back in Division One, had not played a ranked Division One team since 1957, and the Orange were merciless from the opening tip.
Josh Pace started the rush with a jumper in the lane just 13 seconds in.
No. 12 Mississippi State 53, Fairfield 49
Birmingham, Ala. -- Ontario Harper scored a career-high 17 points, and the Bulldogs, playing without preseason All-America Lawrence Roberts, won in the first round of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. Roberts, a senior forward, sat out because of a one-game suspension from the NCAA over his expenses to attend a tryout before the NBA draft.
No. 24 Memphis 102, Savannah State 40
Memphis, Tenn. -- Rodney Carney scored 21 points, and the Tigers had six players finish in double figures in the opening round of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. The Tigers (1-0) will play George Mason in the second round Saturday night.
Big 12
Kansas State 88, Pittsburg State 69
Manhattan -- Fred Peete scored 20 points to lead Kansas State past Pittsburg State in an exhibition game. Kansas State took the lead for good early, with 15:07 remaining in the first half.
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