Syracuse Loses to #1 Duke In Crowded House

Saturday, February 23

Syracuse, N.Y.

6 PM

Syracuse University

(18-9) (9-5)

Duke

(24-3) (12-2)

Duke

Syracuse

2/23/2019 8:22:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Boeheim post game Highlights Press Conference Coach Boeheim Statement Head Coach Jim Boeheim Post Game Press Conference Syracuse Student-Athlete Quotes - Duke Photo Gallery Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski

SYRACUSE, N.Y.— In front of a record-setting crowd of 35,642, Syracuse (18-9, 9-5 ACC) battled hard against #1 Duke Blue (24-3, 12-2 ACC), but fell, 75-65. The attendance represented the largest gathering for an on-campus college basketball game, breaking the standard of 35,446 set twice previously in the Dome.

Despite the double-digit point production from Tyus Battle (16 points), Elijah Hughes (12 points), Frank Howard (10 points) and Marek Dolezaj (10 points), the Orange were not able to overcome 50 combined points from RJ Barrett (30 points) and Alex O'Connell (20 points) for Duke.

How It Was Decided
In a game that featured seven lead changes and five ties, top-ranked Duke was able to pull away late in the second half. With Syracuse trailing, 58-56 with 6:43 remaining, the Blue Devils earned a 3-pointer and a dunk from Barrett, sandwiched around a dunk from O'Connell that produced a 7-0 run. The Orange were unable to get closer than five points the rest of the way.

Coach Boeheim's Thoughts.
"I thought defensively we did very well. I thought we made some shots. Our biggest struggle this year has been making shots. The games we've played at home and on the road we've shot in the mid-40s from around the 3-point line and around 45-50 from the line tonight. We didn't shoot well. Part of that is Duke's defense is very good and was very good tonight. I thought they played a great game."

Balanced Offensive Attack Helps Orange To Solid Start
Syracuse received scoring from six-of-seven players who saw court time in the first 20 minutes and managed to offset a 17-point half from Duke's Barrett while constructing a 34-29 margin. Howard scored all 10 of his points in the first half and the Orange got seven from Hughes and six from Dolezaj.

Syracuse opened the scoring on Howard's 3-pointer and trailed only once, 7-5, in the first 12 minutes. Duke grabbed a 23-22 advantage but the Orange responded with six straight points from Dolezaj --- two layups and a dunk -- that put the hosts ahead, 28-23. Howard's two free throws with three second left gave Syracuse a five-point, halftime margin, at 34-29.

The Orange limited Duke to a 3-of-15 (.200) first-half effort on 3-point attempts, while claiming a 24-17 rebound advantage.

Duke Rallies After The Break
Syracuse was able to maintain an advantage for most of the first four minutes of the second half but the visitors took the lead for good when O'Connell nailed a 3-pointer and a free throw with 15:15 remaining, which gave Duke a 45-43 lead. Hughes answered with a free throw but O'Connell hit a second-straight 3-pointer to put the Blue Devils up four. Duke did not trail again.

Of Note

Syracuse won at #1 Duke in January, 95-91 in overtime.
The contest featured a pairing of Division I's winningest coaches in Syracuse's Jim Boeheim and Mike Krzyzewski from Duke.
Battle scored 16 points, giving him 1,560 for his career. He tied Roosevelt Bouie and Todd Burgan for 18th all-time on Syracuse's scoring list.
Syracuse now is 5-8 all-time against #1 ranked teams.
Oshae Brissett eclipsed 900 career points on a layup early in the second half. He now has 904 for his two-year career at Syracuse.
Brissett tied a career high in assists with four and set a new career best for steals with four.
Dolezaj's 10 points tied a season high.

Up next
Syracuse will travel to Chapel Hill to take on #8/9 North Carolina Tuesday, Feb. 26. The game will tip off at 9 p.m. and will be broadcasted on Raycom.

Tickets for the Orange's final home game on March 4 against No. 3 Virginia are still available at cuse.com/tickets, 1-888-DOMETIX or in person at Gate B of the Carrier Dome.