Copeland Plays Hero at the Buzzer

Quadir Copeland knocks down the game winner at the buzzer Saturday – Patrick Smith 2024

On Saturday afternoon the Syracuse Orange welcomed the Miami Hurricanes to the JMA Wireless dome in a clash of teams looking to break .500 in conference play. When it was all said and done, it would be the Orange who came out on top, moving to 4-3 in conference, whilst the ‘Canes fell to 3-4.
The story of this game can be summed up in a clash of styles and halves. In the first half, the Orange shot 17 threes, connecting on 6, while the Hurricanes turned to the paint to provide consistent offensive output, scoring 26 of their 31 first-half points inside the painted area. At the half Miami would lead 31-30.
Then the script flipped. The ‘Canes, who couldn’t buy a long ball in the first half, started knocking down three after three, putting the Orange, who had cooled off from range, in a tough spot. With under 8 minutes remaining, Miami held a 55-48 lead.
That’s when shots started to fall for the Orange. J.J. Starling (who connected on a career high 6 three pointers) seemed allergic to missing, making big shot after big shot down the stretch. He and fellow sophomore Chris Bell each knocked down two massive threes within the final 5:30 of the ballgame, helping the Orange keep pace with Hurricane stars Matthew Cleveland and Nijel Pack who put up 16 and 19 points respectively.
However, no shot Starling or Bell made could properly prepare you for what unfolded in the waning seconds.

Chris Bell knocks down one of his 4 long balls – Patrick Smith 2024


In the final seconds of a game knotted at 69 apiece, Judah Mintz drove right, drew an extra defender, and instead of playing hero ball, dished a cross-court pass into the waiting hands of Quadir Copeland, who proceeded to hit the biggest shot of his life as the backboard lit up and the buzzer sounded. “…it just worked out y’know, my man slid in, I was open, I didn’t hesitate I just shot it” Copeland Said.
Timely shot making for the Orange combined with 13 assists from Mintz and the knock down shooting of Starling would prove to be the story of the game for Syracuse. Every time a bucket was needed, Chris Bell would knock down a huge corner three (more than likely assisted by Judah Mintz), or J.J. Starling would make (yet another) long ball.

JJ Starling celebrates after draining one of his 6 threes – Patrick Smith 2024

Syracuse sits squarely in 6th place in the ACC with today’s win and will host Florida State here at the JMA Dome on Tuesday. Tipoff is slated for 7:00 P.M. on ESPN2.