Hofstra hands Syracuse first home loss amidst controversial ending

Syracuse, NY — Trailing 70-69 with three seconds left, Syracuse freshman guard Kiyan Anthony drove into traffic and missed a layup. No foul was called, sealing the win for Hofstra.

Kiyan Anthony loses possession of the ball after driving to the basket with three seconds left as Syracuse trails Hofstra 70-69. Photo Credits: Brian Piendel

“I feel like if he didn’t grab my arm, I would’ve reversed it and finished on the other side,” Anthony said. “We were trying to run a play for J.J., but it broke down. I ended up getting open and felt like I made a good move getting downhill. I saw the play. It was a clear foul.”

Head coach Adrian Autry was asked about the no-call after the game.

“I wish I could answer that,” he said. “We have to take accountability, and I’m going to take accountability. Some of the things we could have controlled we should have controlled.”

Autry said the loss boiled down to execution despite Hofstra’s 12 three-pointers on 18 attempts.

“There were no surprises,” he said. “There was nothing they did that we were not prepared for except for our effort and our attention to detail. I’m just very disappointed in myself and our staff for not being able to get the job done in those regards.”

The Orange shot 56% from the free throw line. They remain the only team in the ACC shooting below 60%. 

“We just have to keep working,” Autry said.

Senior guard J.J. Starling opened the game with 12 points in less than seven minutes of play, matching his season high. 

J.J. Starling attempts a layup in the first half against Hofstra. Photo Credits: Brian Piendel

“I just got to the mentality of like, screw it,” he said. “I started to realize that I’m the best me when I’m confident and not thinking or overanalyzing.”

Starling ran into a dry spell from the field until there was 5:40 left in the game. He finished with a team leading 15 points, a new season high, but still short of his 17.8 average from last season.

“He just needs to keep being aggressive,” Autry said. “In the second half he wasn’t as aggressive as he needed to be, especially when we got in transition.”

Anthony said the intensity has to be higher moving forward, even referencing the late push needed for Syracuse to put away Saint Joseph’s on Thursday.

“When we aren’t playing the Tennessee’s or the Houston’s, naturally you have a tendency to lower your level or come out a little bit lackadaisical,” he said. “Once the game gets going, you try to pick it up, but sometimes it’s too late.”

Kiyan Anthony with a pull-up jumper against Hofstra. Photo Credits: Brian Piendel

Syracuse will play Mercyhurst next in the JMA Wireless Dome on Wednesday night at 7:00.