Syracuse men’s basketball continued to tread water through the end of its non-conference schedule, earning a 91-83 win over Northeastern on Saturday at the JMA Wireless Dome. The victory pushed the Orange to 8-4 as they await the return of leading scorer Donnie Freeman and the start of ACC play.
The game followed a familiar script for Syracuse. A sluggish start allowed Northeastern to grab an early lead, as the Huskies took advantage of second-chance opportunities and defensive lapses. SU trailed 14-9 before head coach Adrian Autry called a timeout that changed the tone. Naithan George ignited the turnaround, and the Orange rattled off a 32-17 run to close the first half, flipping a slow opening into a double-digit cushion at the break.
That burst proved necessary, because Syracuse again struggled to deliver a knockout punch. Northeastern chipped away throughout the second half and cut the deficit to five after back-to-back 3-pointers midway through the period. Without Freeman, the Orange lacked a clear go-to option late, allowing the Huskies to stay within striking distance.
George was the difference, repeatedly attacking the rim and living at the free-throw line. He went 12-for-14 from the stripe as Syracuse posted its best foul-shooting performance of the season, finishing 34-for-48 overall. J.J. Starling scored nine points but was limited offensively after halftime, while others stepped up to shoulder the scoring load.
Syracuse also won the rebounding battle 42-37, pulling away slightly in the second half to maintain control. The Orange escaped with the win, but lingering questions about slow starts and closing games remain heading into conference play.
GAME RECAP LINKS
- Orange Hold Off Northeastern at Home (Cuse.com)
- Observations from Syracuse’s win over Northeastern: 1st-half run, no closer (DailyOrange.com)
- Syracuse holds off Northeastern for 91-83 victory (Syracuse.com)
- Syracuse unconvincingly beats Northeastern 91-83 (DailyOrange.com)
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
ADRIAN AUTRY’S POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
FROM SOCIAL MEDIA
Dome dub 🍊
— Syracuse Men’s Basketball (@Cuse_MBB) December 20, 2025
We close non-conference play on Monday night vs. Stonehill pic.twitter.com/2fIdRQOAap
The Double Overtime | Syracuse vs. Northeastern | December 20th, 2025 https://t.co/SsNvKrYXkJ
— WAER Sports Talk (@WAERSportsTalk) December 20, 2025
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.
