Syracuse men’s basketball erased double-digit deficits in both halves to secure a 79-78 victory over SMU on Saturday afternoon at the JMA Wireless Dome, earning its second consecutive win.
The Orange (15-11, 6-7 ACC) trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half and again in the second before mounting a late comeback capped by Nate Kingz’s driving layup with seconds remaining. SMU’s full-court attempt at the buzzer missed, sealing the win.
Syracuse relied on a balanced offensive effort throughout the comeback. Naithan George sparked the late rally with a key three-pointer, while Kiyan Anthony delivered an and-one finish that briefly gave the Orange their first lead since early in the game. Tyler Betsey and George combined for additional late baskets as the teams traded leads in the final minutes before Kingz’s decisive score.
Donnie Freeman and George paced the Orange early, combining for 20 first-half points to keep Syracuse within reach despite SMU’s strong interior scoring and rebounding advantage. The Mustangs (17-8, 6-6 Atlantic Coast) built their lead behind efficient play in the paint and timely perimeter shooting, including a late three-pointer that temporarily restored their advantage in the closing minutes.
Syracuse answered with defensive stops and timely shooting to regain control down the stretch, overcoming missed free throws and several late lead changes.
GAME RECAP LINKS
- Syracuse rallies from 12-point deficit to stun SMU on last-second shot (Syracuse.com)
- Observations from Syracuse’s win over SMU: Kiyan balls out, size mismatch (DailyOrange.com)
- Syracuse 79, SMU 78: Orange sweep homestand with shocking comeback victory (NunesMagician.com)
- Nate Kingz’s last-second layup pushes Syracuse past SMU 79-78 (DailyOrange.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].