Panthers Edge Orange, 63-60

Wednesday, January 6

Syracuse, N.Y.

4:30 PM

Syracuse University

6-2,1-1ACC

Pittsburgh

6-2,2-1ACC

Pittsburgh

Syracuse

1/6/2021 6:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery Highlights Jim Boeheim Press Conference

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – A 19-5 scoring run over the final 5:30 propelled Pittsburgh (6-2, 2-1) to a 63-60 win against Syracuse (6-2, 1-1) in the Carrier Dome on Wednesday afternoon.

Alan Griffin led the Orange in both points (15) and rebounds (8) while Robert Braswell had career highs in both points (12) and 3-pointers (4).

HOW THE GAME WAS DECIDED
With the score knotted at 57-57 with 1:30 to play, Griffin buried a triple to put the Orange ahead, 60-57. Femi Odukale answered back for the Panthers with a layup to bring Pitt within one. A block by Griffin on a fast-break layup by Xavier Johnson kept the Orange on top, but Au'diese Toney scored on a drive with eight seconds left to give the Panthers their first lead of the game. After a Syracuse turnover, Johnson sank two free throws to secure the victory for Pitt, 63-60.

FROM COACH BOEHEIM
"We got shots that we can make and need to make, but we didn't make them" said Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim. "Our defense was pretty good, but we depend on making jump shots and we didn't make them."

STARTING OFF HOT
The Orange offense erupted out of the gate, opening the game on an 11-0 scoring run with eight points from Griffin. The junior knocked down two triples for the game's first six points and made a floater in the lane to force a Pitt timeout with 17:26 to play in the first half.

After Abdoul Karim Coulibaly completed a three-point play, the 'Cuse continued their offensive dominance. Buddy Boeheim, Marek Dolezaj, and Quincy Guerrier each contributed three points to a 9-0 scoring run that gave Syracuse a 20-6 lead with 11:28 to play in the opening period.

The opening eight minutes saw the 'Cuse zone limit Pitt to 2-of-14 shooting from the field (.143), including a 1-of-5 mark from downtown.

Syracuse entered halftime with a 32-18 lead after both teams scored nine points over the final 10 minutes of the opening frame. Griffin led the Orange in both points (8) and rebounds (6) during the first half while Joseph Girard III dished out four assists in the first 20 minutes. The 'Cuse held Pitt to its lowest scoring first half of the season, with the previous Panther low (22) coming against Northwestern on Dec. 9.

BRASWELL BOOSTS THE ORANGE
A 13-3 Pittsburgh scoring stretch in the first five minutes of the second stanza quickly cut the Orange lead to 35-31, but Braswell responded for Syracuse. He buried three triples over the course of two minutes and contributing every Orange point in a 9-2 Syracuse scoring run. The sharp shooting put the 'Syracuse on top, 44-33, with 12:57 to play.

After a media timeout, Girard III and Kadary Richmond both made jumpers, extending an 11-0 Syracuse scoring stretch and pushing the SU lead to 47-33 with 12 minutes left in the contest.

PANTHERS CLAW BACK
The Panthers embarked on a scoring run of their own after enduring streaks from Syracuse. Pitt scored seven unanswered points over the course of two minutes to shave the Syracuse margin to 49-40 with 8:36 left in the game.

With the Orange up seven with five minutes to play, the Panthers inched their way back, using back-to-back layups from Odukale and Terrell Brown to cut the SU edge to 57-52 with 2:40 to play.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

The loss to the Panthers snapped a seven-game Syracuse winning streak against Pittsburgh that dated back to 2018.
Syracuse recorded 12 steals, tying its single-game high on the season.
Joseph Girard III led the Orange with six assists, tying the season high he set at Rutgers.
The Orange only attempted five free throws during the game, their fewest chances from the charity stripe since January 5, 2019 at Notre Dame.
The Panthers only led for eight seconds during the contest while the Orange owned the margin for 39:08.

UP NEXT

Syracuse returns to the Carrier Dome on Saturday night to renew its rivalry with former BIG EAST foe Georgetown. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN2.

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.

For complete coverage of Syracuse men's basketball, follow us on Twitter (@Cuse_MBB) and Instagram (cuse_mbb) and like us on Facebook (SyracuseOrange).

Gallery: (1-6-2021) Syracuse vs. Pittsburgh