Orange Top #16/14 Virginia Tech, 78-60

Saturday, January 23

Syracuse, N.Y.

12 PM

Syracuse University

9-4,3-3ACC

#16 Virginia Tech

11-3,5-2ACC

Virginia Tech

Syracuse

1/23/2021 2:24:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Highlights Photo Gallery Jim Boeheim Press Conference Marek Dolezaj Press Conference

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Quincy Guerrier led four players with double-digit points by scoring 20 and Syracuse (9-4, 3-3 ACC) claimed an upset victory against #16/14 Virginia Tech (11-3, 5-2 ACC), 78-60, in the Carrier Dome on Saturday afternoon.

HOW THE GAME WAS DECIDED
Virginia Tech cut Syracuse's six-point halftime advantage in half with 14:16 to play, but the Orange offense erupted to outscore the Hokies 33-11 over the next 12 minutes and put the game out of reach.

Quincy Guerrier led the Orange with 20 points while Alan Griffin finished with a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) and had a career high seven blocks, the most by a Syracuse player since Rakeem Christmas matched the feat against NC State in 2014. Marek Dolezaj poured in 18 points and Kadary Richmond tallied 13 points off the bench to round out the double-digit scorers for Syracuse.

COACH BOEHEIM SAYS
"The defense was the difference maker. We had a slow start, but after they hit a couple threes early, we did a better job of getting them off their spots. We made some really good steals and Marek was good down low."

BACK-AND-FORTH BEGINNING
The Hokies held an early 10-4 lead thanks to a 7-0 run that featured a pair of triples from Naheim Alleyne, but the Orange offense roared back with a scoring stretch of its own. Over the course of three minutes, Syracuse scored 11 unanswered points and held Virginia Tech to 0-of-5 shooting from the field to pull ahead, 15-10, with 11:56 to play in the half.

With the Orange up 21-16 with 9:22 to play in the opening frame, the visitors began to answer back. Six points from Tyrece Radford helped the Hokies to a 10-0 run that allowed them to reclaim the lead, 26-21, with 6:49 to go in the half.

SYRACUSE SPEEDS AHEAD
The 'Cuse closed the gap with four unanswered points from the charity stripe to narrow the deficit to one. After three Virginia Tech points extended the Hokie lead back to three, a 15-4 Syracuse scoring stretch, highlighted by five points from Buddy Boeheim, put the Orange ahead, 40-32, with 1:35 remaining in the half. A pair of free throws from Alleyne sent the teams to halftime with Syracuse ahead, 40-34.

'CUSE CAME TO PLAY
The Hokies narrowed the SU lead to three by outscoring Syracuse 10-7 in the first six minutes of the second stanza, but a lay-in from Guerrier opened up a 7-0 run for the Orange that put them ahead, 53-44, with 10:13 to go in the game.

The strong play continued for the Orange as Guerrier scored nine of Syracuse's points in a 13-3 stretch to give the Orange a 19-point lead, 67-48, with seven minutes to play in the contest.

Syracuse kept its foot on the pedal to close the contest, using an 11-3 run to extend its lead to 78-53 with two minutes to play. The Hokies scored the final seven points of the contest, but the Orange advantage proved insurmountable.

Get out the way! 😤@quincyguerrier

Watch: https://t.co/M2OojvwqpP pic.twitter.com/UdoL4CKsH3
— Syracuse Basketball (@Cuse_MBB) January 23, 2021

NOTABLE NUMBERS

The win over #16/14 Virginia Tech was the first for Syracuse against a ranked team since defeating #18 Virginia on the road last season, 63-55 in overtime. Today's win was also the first Syracuse victory over the 16^th-ranked team in the country since beating Ohio State in the 2018 ACC/Big Ten Classic, 72-62.
The Orange outscored the Hokies on points in the paint, 46-24.
Syracuse surpassed Virginia Tech in fast-break points, 11-1.
Syracuse swatted eight blocks while the Hokies did not record a single rejection.
Alan Griffin recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds. His rebounding total tied his career high that was set against Bryant in his first game with Syracuse.
Quincy Guerrier scored 20-or-more points for the fourth time this year, tying him with Buddy Boeheim for the second-most 20+ point performances this season for Syracuse.
Griffin recorded his 200^th point of the season on a layup in the second half.

UP NEXT
The Orange hit the road to take on defending national champion Virginia on Monday, January 25. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.

Gallery: (1-23-2021) Syracuse vs. Virginia Tech

Syracuse University Athletics remains committed to doing everything it can to support and protect the health, safety and well-being of our student-athletes, our staff and the campus and Syracuse communities. All decisions will be science-based and informed by public health and guidance as provided by county, state and public health officials.

If fans are permitted to attend games – in some capacity – Syracuse Athletics will announce plans for spectators to secure admission to the events. Fans will be required to sit in their socially-distanced seat locations and wear a face covering.

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