Syracuse Falls to Virginia in ACC Tournament Quarterfinals
Greensboro, N.C. Syracuse lost a heart breaking 72-69 loss to the Virginia Cavaliers on a 3-point buzzer beater in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament on Thursday.
The Orange came in the first half a different team, they had an 11-point lead which was the complete opposite a few weeks ago when the Cavaliers dominated The Orange. But with a slow end to the first half Virginia was able to close the half on a 10-2 run to cut Syracuse’s lead 39-36 at the break. And with an even slower start to the second would give the Cavaliers a chance to find their rhythm, cut the deficit and eventually take the lead 42-39 early in the second half.
The Orange missed their first three shots in the second half but were able to regroup and take the lead back with a 3 from Buddy, but Virginia would take back the lead. The pace of the game slowed down from the first half and both teams struggled to go on a run due to missed 3’s and jumpers. Syracuse tied the game at 59 on a Boeheim 3-pointer with just 5 minutes remaining in the game, but Virginia’s Trey Murphy knocked down back-to-back 3’s and then Sam Hauser made a mid-range jumper that would extend the lead by 6 at the two-minute mark.
Boeheim splashed a 3 pointer while getting fouled that put him at the line to shoot 3 FT’s, he made each FT tying the game at 69 with 28.6 seconds remaining in the second half. Virginia had the ball during the final seconds of the game and the freshman Reece Beckman who was previously 0-5 would break the tie with a 3-point shot at the buzzer.
Once again Buddy Boeheim led the way with 31 points, Guerrier had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Alan Griffin and Joe Girard struggled to put up any shots the entire game.
