Jim Boeheim becomes third Division I men's coach to win 900 games

SYRACUSE -- Jim Boeheim became the third Division I men's coach to reach 900 wins as No. 3 Syracuse beat Detroit, 72-68, last night in the Gotham Classic.

Boeheim, 68 and in his 37th year at his alma mater, is 900-304 and joined an elite fraternity. Mike Krzyzewski (936) and Bob Knight (902) are the only other men's Division I coaches to win that many games.

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, Boeheim's college roommate, teammate and fellow Hall of Famer, and Roosevelt Bouie, a star on Boeheim's first team in 1976-77, were in the Carrier Dome crowd of 17,902. Midway through the second half, fans were given placards featuring cardboard cutouts of Boeheim's face with 900 wins printed on the back to celebrate.

Boeheim was presented a jersey encased in glass with 900 emblazoned on it.

"I'm happy. I've stayed around long enough," Boeheim said at center court. "I was a little nervous."

James Southerland made five three-pointers and had 22 points for Syracuse (10-0), which increased its home winning streak to 30, longest in the nation.

Orange point guard Michael Carter-Williams finished with 12 points and 10 assists, his sixth straight double-double.

Juwan Howard Jr. and Doug Anderson each scored 18 points and Nick Minnerath had 13 for Detroit (6-5), which had its winning streak snapped at four. Ray McCallum Jr., Detroit's leading scorer at 19.4 points per game, finished with only nine.

Syracuse led 40-21 at halftime, but Detroit made it worrisome for the home crowd. Howard scored 11 points to key a 16-0 run, pulling Detroit within 67-63 with 55.1 seconds left. But Carter-Williams hit three of four free throws to hold off the Titans, setting the stage for the celebration.