Syracuse Prevails Over Boston College in Triple OT Thriller

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — After 14 missed free throws and three overtimes, Syracuse completed the season-series sweep and captured their 60th win in program history against Boston College, winning 95-86 at the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday, Feb. 8.

The Orange (11-13, 5-8 ACC) have won 14 of the last 16 meetings, while the Eagles are winless at the Dome since 2014.

Both teams traded baskets in the first half, with eight lead changes. Syracuse finished the half on a 9-0 run to take a 34-27 lead. Freshman guard Elijah Moore scored 11 points in the half, shooting 4 of 6 from the field and 3 of 3 from behind the arc. Moore reached double figures for the first time since Dec. 21, when he scored 16 points at home against the University of Maryland.

The Orange shot 57% from the field and 60% from behind the arc in the second half, with help from Syracuse junior guard J.J. Starling, who scored half his 28 points in the second frame. Starling led the Orange in scoring. BC finished the half shooting 52% from the field and 42% from three. The Eagles (10-13, 2-10 ACC) went on a 7-0 run in the final two minutes to force overtime and outscored the Orange 40-33 in the second half. Eagles’ sophomore guard Fred Payne hit his second three with 1.2 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game at 67. Syracuse missed eight free throws in regulation.

Syracuse had a chance to win in regulation and the first and second overtimes, but they missed multiple free throws that would have given them the lead. In the second overtime, BC went on a 7-0 run to lead 83-76. The Orange stormed back and tied the game at 85. Syracuse held the Eagles, who haven’t won on the road this season, to only one point in the third overtime.

Despite shooting 18 of 32 from the charity stripe, the Orange picked up their fifth ACC win. Syracuse finished the game shooting 47% from the field and 37% from three. They had 52 points in the paint, 21 points from three-point land, 10 steals, 15 fast-break points, and grabbed 50 rebounds.

Syracuse head coach Adrian Autry said everyone who stepped on the court contributed.

“I’m just so proud of this team,” Autry said. “You know, they never wavered. They kept going. We were just making big plays.”

Starling has scored in double figures in 15 of his 17 games. He scored 28 points on 10 of 22 shooting from the field. He said it’s about playing with grit.

“I just learned that I can be a dog,” Starling said. “It’s all about making plays. I just got to do my job, whether it’s defense or offense.”

Eddie Lampkin, the grad transfer from Colorado, played nearly 50 minutes and captured his sixth double-double in ten games. He scored 14 points, shooting 6 of 12, and grabbed 18 rebounds.

Syracuse senior forward Jyare Davis also finished in double figures with 16 points. He was 6 of 10 from the field. Davis said everyone believed in each other.

“Nobody here was throwing in the towel,” Davis said. “We’re all still, you know, sticking together and fighting.”

Syracuse honored the 1974-1975 men’s basketball team at halftime, celebrating the 50th anniversary of their first Final Four appearance.

Syracuse will play the University of Miami at the Watsco Center in Miami, Florida, on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.