SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Playing for the first time since assistant coach Bernie Fine was fired, No. 4 Syracuse remained unbeaten with an 84-48 victory over Eastern Michigan on Tuesday night.
Fine has been accused by three men of molesting them and was fired Sunday after 35-plus years on the bench next to coach Jim Boeheim. Fine has denied the allegations.
James Southerland scored 19 points to match his career high as the Orange improved their record to 7-0.
Boeheim was greeted by a standing ovation when he walked onto the Carrier Dome court that bears his name. First-year Eastern Michigan coach Rob Murphy, an assistant for seven years under Boeheim, greeted the Hall of Famer with a warm hug, and Boeheim received another raucous cheer when he was introduced after the players.
Then, it was back to basketball after a tumultuous weekend of new revelations in the investigation of child molestation allegations against Fine.
