SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Tuesday night marked the Syracuse Men’s Basketball teams third straight ACC win against #23 ranked NC State. The Orange have been struggling this season with fouls and making those necessary points to put them ahead of their opponent. During the first half, Syracuse was shooting only 40 percent of their field goals. All of the missed shots and lack of defense allowed NC State to score multiple 3 point shots. The Orange had a total of 6 fouls during the first period, but Joe Girard found a way to make an early 3 pointer to offset the call.
Each of the starting five players scored in double digits and played a role in their win. Chris Bell put the Orange on the board first with 19:12 left in the first half. Due to a shot clock violation against Syracuse; the Wolfpacks found a way to tie the game 10-10.
Judah Mintz, Jesse Edwards and Girard had a total of 52 combined points. Edwards had 16 rebounds, 1 assist and his first career 3-point shot. This achievement puts him at a 100 percent when it comes to three pointers. He’s a veteran player, and really knows how to take care of the ball on offense and defense. Edwards made a huge dunk when he received an assist from Mintz with 3:09 left on the clock in the second half. This season, Mintz and Edwards have shown what they can do when they connect on plays to gain those extra points.
“We kept our composure, and we were able to finish this one out” Mintz said.
Mintz believes the win against NC State was a confidence booster for the team. The team found a momentum and rhythm that allowed them to dominate. The Orange were able to act quickly in the second half putting them ahead of the Wolfpacks with a final score of 75-72. Syracuse is currently 16-10 and 9-6 in the ACC. Can they keep this energy up for this weekend and add another ACC win to their streak?
Looking ahead, the Orange have five games left in the regular season. Syracuse has lost the last seven matchups against Duke. Fouls, rebounds and staying consistent throughout the entire game are vital to win against the Blue Devils on Saturday. Tip-off is at 6:00 p.m. in the JMA Wireless Dome for an “Orange Out” game and attendance is expected to be high in numbers.