BOSTON — After an average win against an average NCAA Tournament team, the Syracuse men’s basketball team said the perfect things.

“They were a scrappy little team,” SU freshman Carmelo Anthony said.

But masked in Anthony’s small compliment was a bigger message.

During No. 3-seeded Syracuse’s 76-65 win over No. 14 Manhattan on Friday afternoon in front of 18,141 at the FleetCenter, the Jaspers weren’t scrappy enough. And, as Anthony said, they were far too little.

Syracuse used its size advantage throughout, shooting 58 percent, blocking nine shots and outrebounding the Jaspers, 39-28. While the Orangemen grabbed an offensive rebound every other shot, Manhattan earned a second chance one in every four opportunities.

“We got overwhelmed a little bit,” Jaspers coach Bobby Gonzalez said. “They’re just a little too big for us on the boards.”

Seldom-used SU guard Josh Pace helped the Orangemen to a 35-31 halftime lead. Pace, who averages 3.5 points, nearly doubled that number in the first half. He finished with eight points.

“Josh Pace was terrific in the first half,” SU head coach Jim Boeheim said. “When he gets (inside), he’s a finisher.”

As the Orangemen’s inside presence grew, so did their lead. Anthony scored 10 of his team-high 17 in the second half, resorting to strong interior moves rather than timid perimeter play. Point guard Billy Edelin, meanwhile, backed his way into the paint, making one move and spinning his way to 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting.

With 6:57 left, Manhattan trimmed SU’s lead to 61-56 before Anthony responded, scoring six of SU’s next eight points.

But no matter how small the Orangemen’s lead became, their height advantage was always bigger.

“We had a size advantage at every position,” SU guard Kueth Duany said. “That’s something you just have to take advantage of.”

Published on March 23, 2003 at 12:00 pm