Men’s Basketball Late Comeback Vs Syracuse Not Enough

A Devastating Loss for the Orange

The Syracuse Orange men’s basketball team suffered a heartbreaking 84-82 loss to the Boston College Eagles on Saturday, February 11th, 2023, at the Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Despite a valiant comeback attempt in the final minutes of the game, the Orange were unable to overcome a 14-point deficit with just over five minutes remaining.

A Slow Start and Defensive Struggles

Syracuse got off to a slow start offensively, shooting just 28.6% from the field in the first half. Boston College, on the other hand, shot a blistering 55.6% from the field in the opening 20 minutes and took a 46-30 lead into the halftime break.

The Orange’s defensive struggles continued in the second half, as Boston College extended its lead to 66-52 with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game. Syracuse finally found its offensive rhythm late in the second half, cutting the deficit to five points with just over a minute remaining.

A Valiant Comeback Attempt

With the game on the line, Syracuse guard Joe Girard III hit a three-pointer to cut the Boston College lead to 83-82 with just 18 seconds remaining. However, the Orange were unable to get a stop on the defensive end, and Boston College’s Quinten Post hit a free throw to give the Eagles an 84-82 lead.

Syracuse had one final chance to tie the game, but Girard’s three-point attempt at the buzzer rimmed out, and the Orange were dealt a tough loss.

Individual Performances

Girard led the Orange with 28 points on 9-of-20 shooting from the field. Judah Mintz added 18 points, while Maliq Brown and Chris Bell contributed 12 points apiece.

For Boston College, Post led the way with 22 points, while Makai Ashton-Langford added 17 points and Jaeden Zackery chipped in 16 points.

Broader Implications

The loss dropped Syracuse to 16-10 overall and 9-7 in the ACC. The Orange are now in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season.

Boston College, on the other hand, improved to 14-12 overall and 8-8 in the ACC. The Eagles are now in contention for a berth in the NIT.

Conclusion

Syracuse’s late comeback attempt fell short against Boston College, and the Orange are now in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament. The loss exposes the Orange’s defensive struggles and lack of offensive consistency. Syracuse will need to find a way to improve on both ends of the floor if they want to make a run in the ACC Tournament and earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.