Orange Show Resiliency in Win Over Wolfpack as Starling Has Career Night

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – After an abysmal performance against Florida State on Tuesday, Syracuse knew it had to make a statement tonight. It did so against an NC State team that is also vying for an NCAA Tournament berth as JJ Starling set a new personal best of 26 points in the 77-65 win.

Starling started off strong by scoring the Orange’s first 10 points of the night with a pair of three-pointers sandwiched between layups. It was then that the Orange started to get others involved in the scoring as the next baskets were produced by Maliq Brown, Benny Williams and Judah Mintz.

Chris Bell celebrates after hitting a three-pointer against NC State. Bell was 5/9 from behind the arc for the Orange. (Photos Courtesy of Cody Stokes)

NC State kept it to a one-possession game for much of the first half until Starling found his feet once again with a jumper to give Syracuse a five-point lead. That kickstarted a 10-2 run for the Orange heading into the latter part of the first half.

Mintz found his groove in the final minutes of the half as Syracuse took a 38-22 lead into the locker room. For head coach Adrian Autry, it was his defense’s performance in the first half that stood out the most.

“That was the best defense we played all year,” said Autry. “Holding them to 22 points, that was key.”

“Being able to play good defense against a tough team is big time” added Starling.

Quadir Copeland hangs from the rim after a dunk as LJ Thomas (left) watches on. (Photo Courtesy of Cody Stokes)

Orange basketball legend Dave Bing was officially added to the Ring of Honor at halftime. The former second overall pick of the Detroit Pistons in 1966 is just the eighth person in Syracuse athletics history to be added to the ring.

“One of our guys said he’s like the LeBron of Syracuse basketball,” said Autry after the team got to meet Bing earlier in the week in practice.

The second half started much like the first half did with the Wolfpack and the Orange trading baskets, but Starling helped his team pull away with the lead by hitting an early three-pointer.

Judah Mintz brings the ball into the front court for the Orange. Mintz scored 20 points in the win, highlighted by his 14-20 performance at the foul line. (Photo Courtesy of Cody Stokes)

As for the Wolfpack, they adopted the motto of “it’s not over until it’s over” as they clawed their way back to an 11-point deficit with just under six minutes to play. After Mintz split a pair of free throws, it was the Baldwinsville native in Starling once again who brought the Orange offense back to life.

With just under two minutes to play, a pair of free throws for Starling allowed him to surpass his previous career-high of 22 points. He added two more points courtesy of free throws, and it was only fitting that he scored the last Syracuse baskets of the game as the Orange improved to 14-6 overall and 5-4 in the ACC.

“It means a lot,” said Starling after his career performance. “Being able to finally show off my hard work in the gym but at the same time, I know I can’t be satisfied with this. I know there’s still some work to be done.”

JJ Starling smiles on as he has his best game of his Syracuse career against the Wolfpack. (Photo Courtesy of Cody Stokes)

Syracuse is back in action Tuesday night on the road when it takes on Boston College at 7 p.m. As for the next chance to catch the Orange at home, that won’t be until February 7 against Louisville.