Quadir Copeland Buzzer Beater Propels Syracuse to Thrilling Win Over Miami
Quadir Copeland hit a three pointer at the buzzer and Syracuse knocked off Miami 72-69. With the win, the Orange improved to 13-5 (4-3) on the season. Syracuse remains home for its next game against another team from the Sunshine State. The Orange plays Florida State on Tuesday. That game tips at 7:00 p.m. Eastern and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
The first half was a back and forth close contest for most of it, until Miami went on a 9-0 to gain momentum. The Orange would answer back with a 9-2 run to close the half, entering the locker room down just one.
The second half started with some sloppy offense on both sides, with Miami threatening to break it open. That is when JJ Starling hit a few shots to get the Orange back into the game. As sloppy as the start of the half, teams traded high level shot making in the last five to six minutes.
With the game tied at 69, Syracuse got a stop and called timeout to set up the last play. Judah Mintz drove the lane, threw a pass across the court to Copeland who hit a three pointer as the buzzer sounded.
Mintz finished with a career high 13 assists to go along with 10 points, eight rebounds and two steals. He was one of five Syracuse players to score in double figures, joining Maliq Brown (10 points, 11 rebounds), Chris Bell (12 points), Copeland (11 points, six rebounds, two steals) and JJ Starling. Starling scored a game high 22 points with a career high six made three pointers.
Nijel Pack led Miami with 19 points while Matthew Cleveland added 16 points, 12 rebounds and four assists.
Miami came into the game averaging 83 points per game and as one of the best three point shooting teams in the ACC. Syracuse made four more threes (12 to 8) in this one.
Both teams were without their starting center. Naheem McLeod is out for the season for Syracuse while Miami's Norchad Omier was out with a sprained ankle.
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