SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) Trevor Cooney scored 20 points, Rakeem Christmas had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Syracuse beat overmatched Colgate 78-43 on Monday night.
It was the 167th meeting between the upstate New York foes, and Syracuse (7-4) has won the last 49 against Colgate (3-9). Syracuse beat Colgate by just 69-60 a year ago when the Orange won their first 25 games.
Syracuse needed a positive outing after its latest loss. The Orange committed 20 turnovers and blew a five-point lead in the final minute in an overtime loss at No. 7 Villanova on Saturday, squandering a chance for a signature win in what has been a difficult season.
Ron Patterson had a career-high 13 points and Michael Gbinije 11 for the Orange, and the double-double for Christmas was his third of the season.
Damon Sherman-Newsome led Colgate with 13 points and Austin Tillotson had 11.
