In a historic upset, the Syracuse Orange stunned the No. 7 North Carolina Tar Heels 88-79 on Monday night in the Carrier Dome, marking their first win over a Top 10 opponent since 2014.
Guard Joe Girard III exploded for a game-high 31 points, shooting 11-of-18 from the field and draining six three-pointers. Forward Jesse Edwards complemented Girard’s performance with a double-double of 18 points and 18 rebounds.
The Orange trailed by as many as nine points in the second half, but rallied back with a determined effort on both ends of the court. Girard hit a crucial three-pointer to tie the game at 70 with just over four minutes remaining.
North Carolina responded with a three of their own, but Symir Torrence answered with a layup to keep Syracuse within striking distance. In a tense final stretch, the Orange executed down the stretch, making their free throws and forcing turnovers to seal the upset.
The Syracuse defense was relentless throughout the game, holding North Carolina to just 39.3% shooting from the field and 21.1% from beyond the arc. Forward Maliq Brown was a defensive force in the paint, collecting four blocks.
The victory marks Syracuse’s first over a Top 10 opponent since they defeated No. 9 Virginia in 2014. It is also the program’s first home win over a Top 10 team since 2012.
For Head Coach Jim Boeheim, the win was a special moment in his storied career, marking his 961st overall victory.
