Syracuse Upsets No. 7 North Carolina with 86-79 Victory

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — In a stunning upset, Syracuse handed No. 7 North Carolina an 86-79 defeat on Tuesday night at the JMA Wireless Dome, marking the program’s first win over a Top 10 team since 2019.

Judah Mintz led the charge for the Orange with an impressive 25-point performance, including 16 points in the second half, while JJ Starling contributed 23 points, 13 of which came in the latter period.

Judah Mintz running back on defense after finishing at the rim.

“I feel like we’re the best backcourt in the ACC,” said Mintz. “Just feeding off each other’s energy … we both play differently but we’re similar in ways and I think it’s tough for people to guard us especially when we expose matchups.” 

The victory for Syracuse marked a significant milestone, as it snapped a 16-game losing streak against AP Top 10 teams, with their last triumph against such a formidable opponent dating back to a 95-91 overtime win over Duke in 2019.

North Carolina, on the other hand, struggled to contain Syracuse’s offensive firepower, as the Tar Heels endured their third loss in five games. Despite efforts from Caleb Love, who led North Carolina with 19 points, along with contributions from Cormac Ryan (18 points) and Armando Bacot and Harrison Ingram (14 points each), the Tar Heels fell short against one of Syracuse’s best offensive displays this season. 

JJ Starling hyping up Judah Mintz as Syracuse goes on a run.

North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis commended the effort of the Orange, stating the team made big plays when they needed to. 

 “We didn’t play well enough to win, we’ve just got to get better. They shot 63% from the field. Very few teams in the country you can beat, especially on the road when they shoot that well. You have to compliment Syracuse. They stepped up and made big plays and big shots,” said Davis. 

Syracuse’s victory was sealed in crunch time as they capitalized on foul shots to secure the seven-point win. The loss for North Carolina marks their third in the past five games.

JJ Starling after hitting a bank shot three.

“This game shows that we’re mentally strong and that we’re growing with each other,” said Starling. “We’ve been going through a lot on the court, off the court but we didn’t let that deter us from our goal.” 

Next up, the Orange (7-7)  will face Georgia Tech (3-11) in McCamish Pavilion on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.