Former Syracuse basketball player Louis Orr watches a video monitor during a ceremony where his jersey was retired by the university of Feb. 21, 2015. Orr, a standout at Syracuse who played eight NBA seasons before going into a lengthy career in coaching, died of Thursday of pancreatic cancer at age 64. Nick Lisi/Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Louis Orr, a star forward at Syracuse who played eight NBA seasons before going into a lengthy career in coaching, has died. He was 64.
Orr’s family said in a statement through Georgetown that he died Thursday after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Orr helped Syracuse make four NCAA Tournament appearances from 1976-80 and earned All-Big East season and conference tournament honors during his senior year. His No. 55 was retired in 2015.
“Louis Orr was the greatest man I’ve had the pleasure to know,” longtime Syracuse Coach Jim Boeheim posted on social media. “He came into my life as my first recruit, became a fantastic coach and colleague — but most importantly, he became a dear friend. I will treasure our years together. Sending my love to his family and our Orange family.”
Syracuse’s men’s basketball program also shared a message mourning the loss of what it called “an Orange legend – a player, a coach, and most importantly a great person who made everyone around him better. Louis Orr’s memory will live in our hearts forever, and especially whenever we look up and see his No. 55 in the Dome rafters.”
Orr was a second-round pick by Indiana in 1980 and played two seasons with the Pacers before spending six seasons with the New York Knicks from 1982-88.
The Cincinnati native moved into the college coaching ranks as an assistant at Xavier in 1991 and had stints at Providence and his alma mater before taking over the head job at Siena in 2000. He coached one season there, five at Seton Hall and seven at Bowling Green.
FOOTBALL
BAHAMAS BOWL: Jermaine Brown Jr. rushed for 116 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns, Trea Shropshire had 183 yards receiving and a score, and UAB held off Miami (Ohio), 24-20.
UAB (7-6) got its second bowl game win in a row – after beating No. 13 BYU 31-28 in the Independence Bowl last season – and third in program history.
Shropshire dominated the first half with 120 yards, and his second catch after halftime went for 50 yards to set up Brown’s 12-yard rushing touchdown on fourth-and-1 for a 24-20 lead with 1:31 left.
Miami converted two fourth downs on its final drive, and a 15-yard penalty set up the RedHawks on the 15 with one second left. Aveon Smith completed a pass over the middle to Jalen Walker, but the UAB defense came up with a huge stop as Reynard Ellis made a tackle at the 2 as time expired.
“It really comes down to everything this team stands for: We’ll fight til the very end, we’ll never give in, we’re tough, we’re rugged, we play for each other and we never give up,” UAB interim coach Bryant Vincent. “No matter what we’ve been through this year, it’s just the UAB way.”
After Miami took a 20-17 lead with 6:52 left, Brown fumbled and the RedHawks took over at the UAB 28 before missing a 47-yard field goal. Then Brown redeemed himself on the next drive.
Brown carried 24 times to eclipse 100 yards for the fifth time this season for UAB. Shropshire finished with six catches for 183 yards and a touchdown.
CURE BOWL: Gunnar Watson’s 12-yard scoring pass to RaJae’ Johnson in the third quarter put No. 23 Troy ahead to stay, and the Trojans forced five turnovers in an 18-12 win over No. 22 USTA in Orlando, Florida.
Troy (12-2) closed out the season with 11 straight victories and set a school record for wins in a season.
USTA (11-3) outgained Troy 345-169 and led 12-0 in the first half, but turnovers proved to be the difference.
Troy linebacker K.J. Robertson picked off a pass by USTA’s Frank Harris near the goal line in the third quarter. Robertson returned the interception 61 yards, with a 15-yard personal foul penalty tacked on at the end, and the play set up the go-ahead score.
Watson’s TD pass to Johnson gave the Trojans a 13-12 lead, and a 2-point conversion pass to tight end Clayton Ollendieck made it 15-12 with 2:43 remaining in the third quarter.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
(3) OHIO STATE 82, ALBANY 57: Freshman Cotie McMahon scored a season-high 24 points and the Buckeyes beat the Great Danes (6-7) in Columbus, Ohio.
Ohio State improved to 11-0 for the first time since the 2011-12 team started 15-0 before losing on Jan. 7.
McMahon, the Big Ten freshman of the week, reached 20-plus points for the third time this season. McMahon shot 10 for 15 from the field and grabbed seven rebounds. She averaged 14 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists last week in wins against New Hampshire and Michigan State.
(7) NORTH CAROLINA 89, USC UPSTATE 47: Deja Kelly scored 20 points to lead the Tar Heels (8-1) past the Spartans (3-7) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Kelly shot 8 of 11 from the floor and grabbed four rebounds as the Tar Heels won their third straight game. Eva Hodgson added 16 points, four assists and four steals and Paulina Paris chipped in a season-best 15 points.
The Spartans were led by Trinity Johnson’s 13 points and five steals.
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