Syracuse Gets Signature Win, Hangs On vs #23 NC State
Syracuse held on to beat #23 NC State Tuesday night for its first win against a ranked opponent since 2021. With the win, the Orange improved to 16-10 (9-6) on the season. Next up for Syracuse is Duke in the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday.
The Orange received the benefit of two calls in the final minute to help secure the victory. NC State big man DJ Burns was called for a charge with the Wolfpack down one, and Judah Mintz drew a foul attacking the basket. He hit both free throws to push the lead to three and NC State was unable to make a tying three.
The game was back and forth most of the night. NC State jumped out to a nine point lead midway through the first half, but Syracuse bounced back to close the half on a 25-12 spurt to take a four point lead into halftime.
In the second, every time the Orange would push the lead to five or seven and look to gain separation, a layup would roll off the rim, Syracuse would turn it over, and NC State would make a run of its own. In fact, the Wolfpack took a 70-67 lead with three minutes left.
Judah Mintz would hit a game tying three on the next possession and Jesse Edwards hit a layup after that to take the lead back for good. Mintz was shooting under 20% from three-point range, making it an unlikely shot to tie it. However, it was not the most unlikely three pointer of the game.
With the shot clock winding down midway through the second half, Chris Bell passed to Edwards behind the three point line. Jesse had no choice but to take the shot, and he hit it. It was the first three point attempt of his career and first make.
"If you don't win the game when that goes in, something's wrong," Boeheim said. "He's telling you you're winning the game when he makes that."
Mintz led Syracuse with 20 points and nine assists on 7-12 shooting. Edwards had 18 points, 16 rebounds, two steals and two blocks. All five Syracuse starters finished in double figures in scoring. A key element to the win was fast break points, where Syracuse had a 21-13 edge.
NC State star Terquavion Smith came into the game as the favorite to win ACC Player of the Year. Syracuse limited him to 14 points on 5-16 shooting including 4-12 from beyond the arc. Casey Morsell came in shooting 45% from beyond the arc, but was just 1-9 against the Orange. NC State finished 9-34 from deep. Jarkel Joiner had a triple double with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, but was just 6-17 shooting.
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