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SYRACUSE, New York (Ticker) -- A big effort from Kueth Duany ensured that Syracuse will be heading to New York for Thanksgiving. Duany collected 17 points and 12 rebounds for his first career double-double as the 19th-ranked Orangemen posted a 74-60 victory over DePaul in the second round of the Preseason NIT. Syracuse (2-0) will face Michigan State in the tournament's semifinals on November 21 at Madison Square Garden. Duany came off the bench last season and averaged just under six points per game. But the junior is in the starting lineup this season and made 7-of-13 shots on Wednesday night to reach career highs in points and rebounds. "I just played hard tonight," Duany said. "That's all I tried to do. I got a lot of open shots, I just have to step up when teams are focusing on Preston (Shumpert) and DeShaun (Williams). I feel good about that but the most important thing is that we won." DePaul's game plan was to focus on Williams and Shumpert and leave Duany free. However, Williams scored 25 points, including five 3-pointers, while Shumpert, who poured in a career-high 36 points against the Blue Demons in the Great Alaska Shootout last season, added 15. "In a game like this, (Duany) could go for 30 some nights," Orangemen coach Jim Boeheim said. "Nobody is guarding him. They are disrespcting his ability. He is a good player." The Orangemen scored 13 straight points in the first half to take the lead for good at 19-11 with just under 10 minutes remaining. Williams made three 3-pointers during the spurt. With freshman center Craig Forth in foul trouble and starting power forward Ethan Cole ineffective, Syracuse turned to a smaller lineup with James Thues moving to point guard. Thues had eight assists and six steals. "James is playing great coming off the bench," Boeheim said. "He is making smart plays and he is getting the ball to people. He played a tremendous floor game." Duany scored on a follow shot with just over 10 minutes remaining and added a dunk to cap a 9-0 run that gave the Orangemen a 58-42 bulge with 8:50 to play. Cole did not return after playing just three minutes and Jeremy McNeil grabbed eight rebounds but scored only one point. "I am very disappointed the way our 4-men are playing," said Boeheim, referring to his two power forwards. "They are not getting up the court, they are getting beat. We had to go to a small lineup again. We can't play that way the whole game." DePaul (1-1) was led by Imari Sawyer's 16 points while Sam Hoskin added 13 off the bench. The Blue Demons shot 33 percent (18-of-55) and committed 19 turnovers. "I thought we played pretty well the first five or six minutes," DePaul coach Pat Kennedy said. "But then they went to the smaller lineup and we couldn't get untracked." Andre Brown was the only Blue Demon in double figures with 10 points. The all-time series between the schools is tied, 3-3.
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