Syracuse’s struggles against Duke continued Wednesday night, as the Orange (10-13, 4-8 ACC) suffered their worst loss of the season, falling 83-54 to the No. 2 Blue Devils (19-2, 12-0 ACC) at the JMA Wireless Dome.
Despite early energy from the crowd, Syracuse had little answer for Duke’s talent, headlined by projected No. 1 NBA Draft pick Cooper Flagg. The Orange stayed within reach early, thanks to J.J. Starling’s seven quick points, but offensive struggles soon took over. Syracuse shot just 38% from the field and committed 14 turnovers, allowing Duke to build a 37-23 halftime lead.
The Blue Devils took complete control in the second half, overwhelming the Orange with efficient offense, shooting 69% after the break. Kon Knueppel set the tone with a steal and three-pointer, while Flagg added an emphatic dunk that put the game out of reach. Duke’s depth and defensive pressure stifled any potential Syracuse comeback, leading to their ninth straight win over the Orange.
J.J. Starling and Jyáre Davis led the Orange with 12 points apiece. Naheem McLeod finished in double figures as well, netting 10 points. Eddie Lampkin Jr. reached 1,000 career points in the loss.
GAME RECAP LINKS
- Syracuse crushed by No. 2 Duke 83-54 in largest loss of season (DailyOrange.com)
- Syracuse Falls To No. 2 Duke (Cuse.com)
- No. 2 Duke 83, Syracuse 54: Orange defense diced by Blue Devils (NunesMagician.com)
- Observations from SU’s loss to Duke: Defensive discrepancy, 3-point woes continue (DailyOrange.com)
- Duke’s defense overwhelms Syracuse in 83-54 victory over the Orange (Syracuse.com)
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
ADRIAN AUTRY’S POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
FROM SOCIAL MEDIA
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].