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SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse has made a habit of feasting on lesser opponents this season. That trend continued Monday night, so it was difficult to gauge just where Jim Boeheims team is with just two games to go before the start of ACC play.We made some shots tonight. Were still making some mistakes we want to eliminate, Boeheim said.Eight Orange players scored in double figures and Syracuse cruised to a 105-57 victory over Eastern Michigan.Syracuse (7-4) shot 59 percent from the field, including a season-high 15-of-28 from beyond the arc. The Orange had 34 assists on its 37 baskets and assisted on all 19 field goals in the first half. Frank Howard had 10 points and 11 assists. Backcourt mate John Gillon had 14 points and nine assists.Tyus Battled had 18 points to lead the Orange, Andrew White III scored 14, and Dajuan Coleman added 12. Taurean Thompson had 11, and Tyler Roberson had 10.Tyler Lydon had 12 points, six rebounds and four assists in the first 16 minutes before leaving the game with a strained Achilles. Boeheim said he didnt know if Lydon would be available Wednesday against St. Johns.We dont have any more leeway to lose so were just going to approach it with that mentality. This is just one game in the right direction. No disrespect to that team but these havent necessarily been the games that have determined what well be as a team, White said. Were 7-4. Its not where we wanted to be.White was brutally honest when asked if his team was ready for ACC play, which starts New Years Day.Today were not because our record doesnt show anything that would determine us to be a good team in the ACC right now, so luckily we have two games to get ready. We have a lot of work to do but we can be ready by ACC play if we choose to.Eastern Michigan coach Rob Murphy was a bit more impressed.This was a huge step for them, losing four out of their last six, and then to win a game like this builds confidence. Syracuse is going to be a good basketball team moving forward.Quaran Jones led the Eagles (6-5) with 12 points. Jordan Nobles had 11 and 10 rebounds for his first-career double-double, while Willie Magnum IV scored 10.The Orange raced to a 52-24 halftime lead on 19-of-32 shooting from the field, including eight 3-pointers.Syracuse freshmen Thompson and Battle came off the bench and combined for 21 first-half points.Eastern Michigan, which entered the game shooting 47 percent from the field and averaging 84.8 points a game, shot 35 percent.BIG PICTUREEastern Michigan was sloppy Monday, committing a season-high 20 turnovers, many of which were unforced.Syracuse continued its pattern of beating up on lesser opponents.TIP INSEastern Michigan: The Eagles three leading scorers were held below their season averages. Willie Mangum IV (17.5) had 10; Ray Lee (17.4) scored just two; James Thompson IV (15.6) managed four.Head coach Rob Murphy spent seven seasons as an assistant under Jim Boeheim.Entering Mondays game the Eagles were fifth in the country with 117 steals, and second in steals per game at 12.6.Syracuse: Tyus Battle hit 4 of 7 from beyond the arc.Andrew White was 4 of 8 from behind the arc.White has scored in double figures in all of Syracuses games.Taurean Thompson had five assists, several of the no-look variety. Frank Howard leads the ACC in assists.UP NEXTEastern Michigan hosts Marygrove College Thursday.Syracuse hosts former Big East rival St. Johns Wednesday. Jamie Langenbrunner Jersey . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Pavel Zacha Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.devilssale.com/authentic-will-butcher-devils-jersey/ . MORITZ, Switzerland -- Fog prevented downhill racers from getting their Olympic dress rehearsal. Cory Schneider Jersey . 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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Now that his flag-carrying duties are out of the way, Michael Phelps is eager to get started on his fifth Olympics.That will likely come Sunday in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay, a title the Americans are gunning to reclaim after getting chased down by the French in 2012.Phelps expected debut would be one of the highlights on the second day of swimming at the Rio Games, though hed have to share the spotlight with Katie Ledecky.Shell be seeking the first of an expected three individual gold medals, going in as a heavy favorite in the 400 freestyle. The only suspense seems to be whether shell break her own world record.Ledecky already picked up her first medal of the games, anchoring the womens 4x100 free relay to a silver-medal finish behind Australia on Saturday.Phelps, the most decorated athlete in Olympic history, wants to do his part for the mens relay team.Thats something Ive had the privilege to be a part of since 2004, and Im hoping to have the opportunity again, Phelps said. Its always super-fast and there are always some wild, crazy splits that take place.In 2008, the Americans memorably defeated the French when Jason Lezak rallied against Alain Bernard with the fastest 100 split in history, a victory that kept Phelps on course to win a record eight gold medals in Beijing.Four years ago, the French got their revenge when Yannick Agnel caught Ryan Lochte on the anchor leg.This time, its hardly a two-country race.The Australians figure to be in the mix, especially riding the momentum of an impressive opening night at the pool. They captured two gold medals, also taking the mens 400 free when Mack Horton held off defending Olympic champion Sun Yang of China, doubling up on the one gold medal they managed during their disappointing performance at the 2012 London Games.You can probabbly pick three or four teams that are going to have a chance to win that relay, Phelps said.dddddddddddd The Australians made a significant charge over the past couple of years with their mens and womens teams combined. A lot of younger guys really stepped up, and that brings more excitement to the sport.The Americans are eager for gold after getting shut out on the first night of swimming, settling for three silvers. It was a first time they failed to win at least one race during an Olympic finals session at the pool since Aug. 14, 2008 -- the lone day Phelps didnt go for gold in Beijing.Phelps has been part of the 4x100 free relay at the last three Olympics, even though the 100 free has never been one of his individual specialties. Its unfathomable that the Americans would leave off a swimmer with 18 golds and 22 medals overall, especially after a dismal performance at last years worlds when the U.S. didnt even qualify for the final -- a performance that was especially galling to Phelps, who had to sit out the meet as part of his punishment for a second drunken-driving arrest.I do know that the coaching staff will put out the four fastest guys, whoever that is, Phelps said coyly. Im looking forward to either watching or being in that race.Also on tap for the second day of swimming: finals in the womens 100 butterfly, in which Swedens Sarah Sjostrom is favored to take down defending champion Dana Vollmer of the U.S., and the mens 100 breaststroke, where Adam Peaty of Britain already took down his own world record during the preliminaries.---Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry . ' ' '