Orange Face #16 Illinois In ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Game Details: Tuesday, Nov. 29, Urbana-Champaign, Ill., 7:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
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Syracuse (3-3) heads to Urbana-Champaign, Ill. to take on #16/17 Illinois (5-1) in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m.

SETTING THE STAGE
The Orange enter the ACC/Big Ten Challenge following a close, 73-72, loss to Bryant. The Bulldogs edged Syracuse by converting the game-winning shot in the lane with 0.8 left on the clock.

The Fighting Illini come into the matchup following a 92-59 victory against Lindenwood. Illinois was led to victory by career outings from Skyy Clark (19 points) and RJ Melendez (17).

SYRACUSE-ILLINOIS SERIES
Tuesday night marks the first time in 27 years that the two squads will meet and just the fourth gathering in series history. The Fighting Illini hold a 2-1 series edge versus the Orange. Syracuse took the last meeting, 75-64, on Dec. 27, 1995.

LAST TIME OUT
Freshman guard Justin Taylor led the Orange with a career and game-high 25-point showing against Bryant. Senior center Jesse Edwards logged his second double-double of the season with 12 points and a personal-best 21 rebounds.

ORANGE LEADERS
Freshman guard Judah Mintz leads Syracuse in scoring average (16.2 ppg) which marks him fourth among Division I freshmen heading into Tuesday's contest. Senior guard Joseph Girard III is currently averaging 15.7 ppg. Edwards is the only Orange averaging a double-double with 14.5 ppg and a team-leading 10.5 rebounds per game.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Terrence Shannon Jr. (20.3 ppg) is one of three Fighting Illini averaging double-digit points. Dain Dainja leads on the glass by grabbing 7.0 boards per game and has contributed 13.0 ppg. Jayden Epps has produced 11.0 points per contest.

'CUSE FANS CAN VOTE FOR GIRARD
Senior Joseph Girard III is one of 20 players named to the 2023 Jerry West Award watch list, which is annually presented to the top shooting guard in Division I college basketball. Orange fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting for each of the three rounds. The list will be narrowed down to 10 in January, five in February, and the five finalists will be presented to Jerry West and the Hall of Fame's selection committee where a winner will be selected in March. Fans can vote for Girard at hoophallawards.com.

BOEHEIM & PEARL TO JOIN RING OF HONOR
Jim Boeheim and Dwayne "Pearl" Washington -- two of the most prominent names in Syracuse men's basketball history -- will be formally recognized as members of the Syracuse University Athletics Ring of Honor in the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022. The ceremony will be held on the same day the Orange host Georgetown.

MCNAMARA AND WARRICK JERSEY RETIREMENT
Twenty years after playing a major role in Syracuse's first NCAA Basketball Championship, Gerry McNamara '06 and Hakim Warrick '05 will have their Orange jerseys hoisted to the Dome rafters. The jersey retirements will take place on Sunday, March 4 when Syracuse hosts Wake Forest at 5:00 p.m. in the JMA Wireless Dome.

TICKETS
Syracuse men's basketball tickets are available online (cuse.com/tickets), by phone (1-888-DOMETIX), and at the Dome Box Office (Gate B).

For complete coverage of Syracuse men's basketball, follow the team on Twitter (@Cuse_MBB) and Instagram (@cuse_mbb).

Orange Face #16 Illinois In ACC/Big Ten Challenge

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Players Mentioned

Jesse Edwards

Joseph Girard III

Judah Mintz

Justin Taylor

Syracuse University Athletics