'Cuse Scores Season High in Loss to #5 UNC

Tuesday, February 26

Chapel Hill, N.C.

9 PM

Syracuse University

18-10, 9-6ACC

North Carolina

23-5, 13-2ACC

Syracuse

North Carolina

2/26/2019 11:26:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Highlights Jim Boeheim Press Conference

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Despite Syracuse scoring a season-high regulation 85 points, #5 North Carolina topped Syracuse, 93-85, Tuesday evening in Chapel Hill. Syracuse (18-10, 9-6 ACC) was led by Tyus Battle's 29 points, a season-high in regulation, that included four 3-pointers. Additionally, the junior guard dished out five assists and led the Orange with five rebounds.

Battle and the three additional Syracuse players who notched double-digit points – Elijah Hughes, Frank Howard and Oshae Brissett, accounted for 65 of the Orange's 85 points. Hughes had 15 points, all of which came in the first half, while Howard and Brissett contributed 11 and 10, respectively.

Syracuse was unable to halt Coby White's career night that included 34 points and a perfect 10-of-10 performance at the free throw line.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Despite a 10-point lead for North Carolina with four minutes left in the second half, Syracuse moved back into striking distance with a 7-0 run to be down four, 60-56. Following seven points from Battle, the Orange tied it 63-63 but was never able to retake the lead. North Carolina fired off a 9-2 run that gave them the 10-point, 83-73 advantage.

FAST AND FURIOUS FIRST HALF
Syracuse led for the first 9:14 of the game, following a 6-of-7 shooting performance and an early 15-6 lead. The Tar Heels caught steam of their own with an 8-0 run, following back-to-back 3-pointers that pulled them within one, 15-14. Battle broke the North Carolina scoring streak with a jumper as both teams entered a back and forth fight. The Tar Heels took their first lead of the game, 22-21, following a layup and pair of free throws from Nassir Little.

Syracuse came out on top following the first half, thanks to an 18-of-34 shooting performance (53 percent) that included eight 3-pointers. Five of the eight treys came from Hughes' outstanding 5-of-7 look from behind the arc in the first half.

FREETHROW ADVANTAGE KEEPS TARHEELS AROUND
Despite shooting 37 percent in the first half and making eight less field goals than the Orange, North Carolina kept the game close due to a large free throw advantage. The Tar Heels had 21 attempts at the free throw line, making 19 of them, compared to the Orange's 2-of-5 performance at the charity stripe.

North Carolina held its free throw advantage through the second half, ending the game with 34. The 34 free throws are the most for any Syracuse opponent since Tennessee's 34 on Dec. 22, 2000.

OF NOTE

Tuesday's game was Syracuse's third consecutive ranked opponent. The Orange defeated #18 Louisville, 69-49, on Wednesday, Feb. 20 before falling to then-#1 Duke, 75-65, in front of the largest on-campus crowd in NCAA history with 35,642 fans in attendance.
The win moved North Carolina to a 12-4 advantage in the all-time series, including being 4-0 in the Dean Smith Center.
The Tar Heels entered Tuesday's game third in Division I in scoring offense (87.1 ppg) and rebound margin (+9.5). They lived up to both scoring 93 points and winning the battle of the boards 46-25.
North Carolina is the first opponent this season to have less than 10 turnovers against the staggering 'Cuse defense. The Tar Heels had nine in Tuesday's contest.
With his 29 points, Battle moves to 1,589 all-time in his career. He moved into 17^th place, surpassing Roosevelt Bouie, Todd Burgan and Brandon Triche with his scoring efforts against the Tar Heels. Battle needs another 25 points to tie Dave Johnson in 16^th with 1,614. Battle had just six points in the first half, pouring in 23 in the second period.
Tuesday was also Battle's 75th double-digit scoring game of his career.

UP NEXT
Syracuse remains on the road with a 12 p.m. matchup at Wake Forest on Saturday, March 2. The game will be broadcast by Raycom Sports.

Tickets for Syracuse's final home game of the 2018-19 season against Virginia on March 5 are available at cuse.com/tickets, 1-888-DOMETIX or in person at Gate B of the Carrier Dome.