Orangemen earn 11th comeback victory

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Carmelo Anthony missed two free throws that could have iced the game in the final 30 seconds of regulation.

Gerry McNamara, who hadn't missed a free throw in Big East play all season, went 1-for-2 from the line with 10 seconds left.

So Syracuse needed overtime for its 11th second-half, comeback victory of the season and McNamara redeemed himself with 10 of his 22 points in the extra period as the 15th-ranked Orangemen beat Georgetown 93-84 Saturday.

"I never thought Jerry and Melo would miss those three free throws late in regulation,'' Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. "I think they were shocked a little bit. When (Georgetown) scored and tied it, most teams would lose that game in overtime.''

Syracuse overcame a 12-point deficit -- the fifth time this season the Orangemen have made up eight or more in the second half. This was the first to go to overtime and it featured stellar games from Big East player of the year candidates Anthony and Mike Sweetney of Georgetown.

"I doubt if there's ever been a team that's been behind as many points as we have in 11 games in the second half and won all 11,'' Boeheim said. "Either we're not doing a good coaching job in the first half, or we're doing a heck of a coaching job in the second half.''

Anthony, a freshman shaking off a dismal first half in his first college game near his native Baltimore, had career highs of 30 points and 15 rebounds, but his numbers were bettered by Sweetney, a junior who had 31 points, 19 rebounds, seven assists and seven blocks.

"The two of them played at a different level than the other eight guys on floor,'' Georgetown coach Craig Esherick said.

It was the fifth straight victory for the Orangemen (21-4, 11-3). Anthony, just 3-for-10 from the field in the first half, finished 12-for-29 -- although he was 1-for-7 from 3-point range and 5-for-13 from the free throw line.

Hakim Warrick added 14 points and 18 rebounds for the Orangemen, who outrebounded Georgetown 60-43.

Tony Bethel had 19 points for the Hoyas (13-12, 5-9), who suffered yet another close loss in a frustrating season that has them at risk of not qualifying for the Big East tournament. Georgetown is 1-3 in overtime and has two other one-point losses.

"I've had a lot of practice at this, I can tell you that,'' Esherick said. "The most important thing that hurt us today is we couldn't rebound -- except for Sweetney.''

Georgetown's Gerald Riley, who was 0-for-7 from 3-point range at the time, hit a 3-pointer with 3.2 seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime. The Hoyas were given the chance when McNamara, a 94 percent free throw shooter, went 1-for-2 with 10 seconds left.

McNamara finished 9-for-11 from the line -- ending a perfect 41-for-41 mark in conference play entering the game.

McNamara hit two 3-pointers and another jumper in an 11-3 run to start overtime. Hoyas, down by eight, had to pressure and foul the rest of the way, but never got closer than four.

Georgetown started the game with an 11-0 run as Syracuse missed its first eight shots and 14 of 17. The Hoyas couldn't build on the lead, however, because they shot just 29 percent in the first half. Billy Edelin and Warrick each scored two baskets as Orangemen finished the half with a 10-2 run to get within 30-27.

Sweetney scored 11 of Georgetown's first 13 points in the second half -- all on inside moves -- as the Hoyas increased a three-point halftime lead to double digits.

But Anthony completed a comeback by tying the game at 60 with two free throws with 6:21 to play. He then stole the inbounds pass and made a short jumper to give Syracuse its first lead, 62-60.

The rest of regulation was a tense duel, with neither team leading by more than four points.

"It was typical Georgetown-Syracuse -- that's for sure,'' Boeheim said.