Syracuse men’s basketball fell behind early and could not keep pace in an 88-68 loss at NC State on Tuesday night in Raleigh. The defeat dropped the Orange to 12-9 overall and 3-5 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, while the Wolfpack improved to 15-6 and 6-2.
NC State scored just four seconds into the game and controlled the tempo throughout. Syracuse briefly answered in the opening half, trimming the deficit to one behind a Donnie Freeman three and a short burst from J.J. Starling. Nate Kingz later knocked down two three-pointers to help Syracuse pull within four at halftime, trailing 41-37 despite seven first-half turnovers and NC State shooting 50% from the field.
The second half told a different story. Syracuse struggled to execute offensively and could not contain NC State’s dribble penetration. The Wolfpack repeatedly got into the lane for high-percentage looks, stretching the margin as Syracuse missed open shots from the perimeter. NC State opened the half with a run to push the lead back to seven and never let Syracuse seriously threaten again.
Freeman finished with a double-double, leading the Orange with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Starling provided a modest spark in the second half, while freshman Calvin Russell scored his first collegiate points on a putback and free throw.
NC State pulled away decisively over the final 10 minutes, dominating the paint and the glass as Syracuse’s defense wore down. Darrion Williams led the Wolfpack with 23 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Michael Copeland added 19 points, going 9-for-9 from the free-throw line, along with nine assists.
GAME RECAP LINKS
- Syracuse loses 88-68 to NC State in 5th Quad 1 opportunity (DailyOrange.com)
- Syracuse gets run out of Raleigh, losing 88-68 to NC State (NunesMagician.com)
- N.C. State stymies Syracuse as Orange loses its 4th straight game (Syracuse.com)
- Observations from SU’s loss to NC State: Copeland shines, 2nd half struggles (DailyOrange.com)
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
ADRIAN AUTRY’S POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
FROM SOCIAL MEDIA
The Double Overtime | Syracuse vs. NC State | January 27th, 2026 https://t.co/3yox7754Gl
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Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.
